LIBERIAN PRESIDENT ELLEN JOHNSON-SIRLEAF VISITS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 001706 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV LI FR SUBJECT: LIBERIAN PRESIDENT ELLEN JOHNSON-SIRLEAF VISITS PARIS Classified By: Political-Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt, reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: MFA DAS-equivalent for West Africa Bruno Foucher on March 13 described Liberia President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's March 7-10 official visit to France as a success. France's primary interest in supporting Johnson-Sirleaf and stability in Liberia is to promote stability in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire. France intends by the end of 2006 to re-establish an official diplomatic presence in Liberia and to implement assistance programs now under consideration. Foucher said that France was comfortable with plans underway to transfer Charles Taylor from Nigeria via Sierra Leone to the Hague for prosecution. During her visit, Johnson-Sirleaf met with a range of government and business leaders. She was the featured speaker at French think-tank IFRI on March 9, where she presented her plans to jumpstart development in her war-torn country. END SUMMARY. LIBERIA IS IMPORTANT TO FRANCE BECAUSE OF COTE D'IVOIRE ¶2. (C) MFA DAS-equivalent for West Africa Bruno Foucher on March 13 discussed Liberian President Johnson-Sirleaf's official visit to France the previous week. He said the visit occurred after President Chirac invited Johnson-Sirleaf to France at the December 2005 France-Africa Summit in Mali soon after her election. Foucher was quite blunt in stating that France's primary interest in Liberia related to Cote d'Ivoire. Liberia's political stability and economic viability were of strategic importance to France because of its border with Cote d'Ivoire. Instability in Liberia, Foucher said, contributed to problems in Cote d'Ivoire, especially in the volatile western region of the country. It was therefore in France's interest to support efforts for political stability and economic development in Liberia in order to minimize spill-over effects into Cote d'Ivoire. ¶3. (C) Johnson-Sirleaf met with several of France's most senior leaders, including Chirac, the presidents of the Senate and National Assembly, Cooperation Minister-Delegate Girardin, and a number of business leaders. During her meeting with Chirac, Johnson-Sirleaf asked how France could help Liberia. Chirac reportedly expressed his wish for France "to participate in the development and stability of Liberia." He proposed specifically a public health project to build health clinics to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS. Besides basic humanitarian aid, the French also presented a project aimed at cultural development and exchange, including an augmented French-language study program. This program, Foucher noted, would allow for improved relations between Anglophone Liberia and Francophone Cote d'Ivoire, hopefully leading to enhanced security cooperation and border control, increased trade, and stronger diplomatic ties. ¶4. (SBU) Johnson-Sirleaf's meeting with FM Douste-Blaze included a dinner. During his lengthy toast, Douste-Blazy praised her personal achievements and those of her country, noting the historic significance of her election as the first woman president of Africa's first independent nation, and underlined France's interest in supporting peace, stability, and economic development in Liberia. He described Johnson-Sirleaf's election as the first African female head of state as "doubly historic," as it also symbolically marked the end of Liberia's devastating civil war. He described Liberia as "a new model of peace and progress" in Africa, demonstrating the ability of an African country to emerge from the quagmire of civil war and begin moving along the path of democracy and prosperity. The French FM concluded by emphasizing that "today, more than ever, the African continent is a priority" of French foreign policy and that France would seek to further stability, security, and development in Liberia through "an approach founded on mutual interest." Many prominent business leaders were present at the dinner and were able to make the acquaintance of Johnson-Sirleaf and members of her party. FRANCE TO ENHANCE PRESENCE IN LIBERIA ¶5. (C) Foucher said that France hoped to establish a full diplomatic presence in Liberia by the end of 2006. France had evacuated its diplomatic mission in 1990 and formally closed it in 1996. Most recently, France was represented by one honorary consul, but a second honorary consul was now in place. Foucher did not know if an ambassador would be named when France reopens its mission or if it would operate with a charge d'affaires. Foucher said it would be difficult to manage the assistance programs now under consideration without a permanent official presence in Liberia, which was one reason the French wanted to re-open their mission this year. Foucher commented that Chirac disliked "laptop" (i.e., PARIS 00001706 002 OF 002 itinerant) ambassadors who visit from time to time but who do not get much done. CHARLES TAYLOR ¶6. (C) On the issue of justice for former Liberian President Charles Taylor, Foucher stated that France had no problem with his prosecution as long as Nigeria accepted his transfer to Sierra Leone and then to the Hague for prosecution. Foucher said he believed the UNSC would act favorably on this plan soon. However, Foucher expressed his concern that a push by Johnson-Sirleaf to bring Taylor to justice could lead to instability in Liberia and problems for her personally, as several of Taylor's allies still retained influence in Liberia, including in its parliament. LIBERIAN PRESIDENT PRESENTS DEVELOPMENT PLAN AT IFRI CONFERENCE ¶7. (U) In a March 9 speech at the prestigious French Institute of International Relations (IFRI),Johnson-Sirleaf presented her plan to move her war-torn country towards political stability and economic development. Xavier de Villepin, former president of the French Senate,s Foreign Affairs Committee (and father of current Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin),presided over the conference. ¶8. (U) Johnson-Sirleaf said that "Liberia can indeed become a success story in Africa," escaping its tumultuous past with a development approach focused on the reconciliation of Liberia,s disparate groups, peace in the West African region, economic growth, infrastructure improvement, and the restoration of economic credibility. As the first democratically elected president of her country, Johnson-Sirleaf said she understood that Liberian expectations were high, and her plan thus emphasized tangible results. Her proposed package, called the "150-Day Deliverables," would seek to make a visible difference in Liberians, lives through vast improvements to the infrastructure, a restructuring of the military and security forces, and improved local governance. ¶9. (U) Audience questions involved repatriation issues, justice for Charles Taylor, women,s rights, education, and the monetary and fiscal dilemmas facing the country. The heart of the discussion centered on the role of the donor community in aiding Liberia. Johnson-Sirleaf emphasized that sustained help over the long term was necessary to put her country on the track of stable economic growth, but she encouraged donors to participate in her "150-Day Deliverables" program to jumpstart development, stressing that Liberian expectations -- and thus the nation,s stability -- were tied to its successful implementation. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm Stapleton