ARAB LEAGUE READOUT OF COMOROS NEGOTIATIONS

UNCLAS CAIRO 001519 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR ARABL CN EG SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE READOUT OF COMOROS NEGOTIATIONS REF: A. CAIRO 1353 ¶B. SECSTATE 60497 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. AFRICAN AFFAIRS SAMIR HOSNI GAVE POLOFF A READOUT ON HIS MAY 8 - 11 TRIP TO THE COMOROS, ONE OF THE LEAGUE'S 22 MEMBER STATES, TO MEDIATE THE CONFLICT THERE. HOSNI SAID THAT HE AND AFRICAN UNION ENVOY MANDELA NEGOTIATED THE AGREEMENT UNDER WHICH ISLAND PRESIDENT BACAR STEPPED DOWN FROM OFFICE AND APPOINTED THE MINISTER OF ECONOMY AS INTERIM PRESIDENT, UNTIL NEW ELECTIONS ARE HELD IN JUNE. ONE OF BACAR'S KEY CONCERNS, SAID HOSNI, WAS HIS OWN SECURITY; IT WAS AGREED THAT THE INTERIM PRESIDENT WOULD PROVIDE FOR BACARS SECURITY. ACCORDING TO HOSNI, THE LEAGUE HAD AGREED TO GIVE $350,000, VIA THE UNDP, TO FINANCE THE JUNE ELECTIONS. RICCIARDONE