COTE D'IVOIRE: COMPAORE'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABIDJAN 001006 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (PARAS 2 & 4 - NAME OF AMB) SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W-EPLUMB, LONDON FOR RBELL, PARIS FOR RKANEDA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL IV UV SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: COMPAORE'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE SHARES VIEWS ON OPA IMPLEMENTATION ABIDJAN 00001006 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES CYNTHIA AKUETTEH FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) A ND (D) ¶1. (C) Summary. Boureima Badini, Special Representative of Ouagadougou Political Accord (OPA) Facilitator Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore, told Charge on September 27 that both President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Soro are committed to OPA implementation, but that there is a lack of trust between them. He added that some in Gbagbo's camp do not support the OPA. Badini believes OPA implementation and disarmament could be negatively affected if the investigation into the attack on Soro's plane indicates someone close to Gbagbo was behind it. Badini said it is too soon to say if the "audiences foraines" (tribunals that will issue birth certificates to those who never received them or lost them) will be able to complete their work in the 3-month timeframe provided in the OPA. Badini urged the international community to maintain pressure on OPA implementation and requested U.S. funding assistance to set up his office. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Charge d'Affaires accompanied by Pol Chief, met on September 27 with Emile Ilboudo, Ambassador of Burkina-Faso to Cote d'Ivoire, and Boureima Badini, Special Representative of the OPA Facilitator. Badini, who arrived in Cote d'Ivoire on September 11 to take up his duties, told Charge that his role is to monitor the events on the ground regarding OPA implementation and that he is optimistic. He said the Government of Cote d'Ivoire (GOCI) is assisting him in locating a residence and an office and that it is likely that his office will be located in the International Labor Office (Bureau International de Travail - BIT). Badini said there is "synergy" between his office and the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and explained that UNOCI will provide security for him. Commitment Exists, But Trust Lacking -------------- ¶3. (C) Badini said both Gbagbo and Soro are committed to OPA implementation, but that there is a lack of trust between them. Badini said Soro's Forces Nouvelles are tired of the crisis and support the OPA, but some in the President's camp �00A;don't back the OPA and are trying to hinder its implementation. Responding to a question from Charge, Badini said that Soro does not discuss the June 29 attack on his plane, but that Soro believes persons in the Presidential camp were behind it. Badini noted that if the UN investigation into the attack indicates that it was carried out by persons close to the President, it will further erode trust between Soro and Gbagbo and will negatively impact on the disarmament process. Audiences Foraines -------------- ¶4. (C) Badini said OPA implementation has reached a critical stage with the commencement of the "audiences foraines" on September 25 and that, while it is positive that the process has begun, it must be transparent. He noted that the OPA provides for the "audiences foraines" to run for 3 months and that the date to start the clock running needs to be chosen, either the September 25 symbolic commencement date (see reftel) or a later date when the process has been expanded to more locations. In response to the Charge's question whether the audiences foraines will be able to complete their work in 3 months, Badini said the process will have to be evaluated at the halfway point. He also said a decision to extend the timeframe for the "audiences foraines" would have to be agreed to be by both parties to the OPA and would affect the date for elections which some would like to see held earlier than others. Ambassador Ilboudo expressed concern that some political parties have stated that they will accuse the government of fraud if the "audiences foraines" issue more than 300,000 birth certificates, thereby setting the stage for further political turmoil. Badini believes that the OPA would never have been achieved if all political parties had participated in the process. He complained that the opposition political parties have already begun campaigning for the next election instead of supporting the country's emergence from its political crisis. Challenges and Role of International Community -------------- - ¶5. (C) Badini told Charge that a major challenge is the determination of the technical advisor for the identification ABIDJAN 00001006 002.2 OF 002 process. He stated that redeployment of the administration to the north and west of the country is crucial in order to hold elections. Badini expressed frustration with the unwillingness of bureaucrats to return until their offices and official residences have been rehabilitated, observing that in Burkina Faso tribunals have met "under trees." Badini said another fundamental issue is the ranks for Forces Nouvelles members who are integrated into the Armed Forces and that President Compaore is consulting with the parties on this issue. Badini encouraged the international community to press the parties to fully implement the OPA, including choosing the technical advisor. Badini also requested U.S. financial assistance in setting up his office. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: Badini, who was the former Minister of Justice in Burkina Faso, was especially forthcoming in the meeting and didn't hesitate to respond to questions/concerns. In his comments, he reported that he meets weekly with various parties in order to maintain pressure on them to implement the OPA. He also commented that "the parties have confidence in and are even afraid of Compaore." END COMMENT. AKUETTEH