Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CONAKRY1139
2007-10-12 14:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Conakry
Cable title:  

PRIME MINISTER ADDRESSES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY -

Tags:  PGOV PREL ECON KDEM GV 
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VZCZCXRO8315
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #1139/01 2851427
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121427Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1751
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 001139 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON KDEM GV
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER ADDRESSES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY -
REPORTS ON GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 001139

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON KDEM GV
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER ADDRESSES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY -
REPORTS ON GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. In his first official policy speech since
his appointment in March, Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate
outlined his government,s accomplishments over the last six
months before the National Assembly on October 11. Despite
Kouyate,s 80 minutes discourse, deputies were reportedly
disappointed with the speech,s overall lack of substance.
Widely anticipated as Kouyate,s opportunity to present a
defining, forward-looking strategy for the Guinean
Government, the general perception was that Kouyate,s speech
failed to deliver what people were hoping for. END SUMMARY.



2. (U) Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate spoke for 80 minutes
before the Guinean National Assembly during which he detailed
the consensus government,s accomplishments over the last six
months. Seen by many observers as representing Kouyate,s
first official policy statement since he became head of
government in March, there were 85 National Assembly deputies
present (out of 107),which internet press reported as
significantly higher than average. At least six ministers
attended as part of Kouyate,s delegation, including the
ministers of health, public works, economic control, mines,
education, and labor. In addition to poloff, representatives
from the UNDP, the EU, and Germany were present. The speech
attracted extensive press coverage including national radio
and television, print media, and Radio France and BBC
correspondents.

--------------
KOUYATE FOCUSES ON GOVERNMENT ACHIEVEMENTS
--------------


3. (SBU) Kouyate,s speech was widely anticipated as an
opportunity for him to define a forward-looking policy
strategy. Instead, Kouyate focused on outlining his
government,s recent accomplishments while broadly defining
key government objectives, which included providing for
national unity, an independent judiciary, maximum employment
for youth, the re-establishment of state authority,
readjustment of macro-economic imbalances, promotion of
political and social dialogue, and promotion of good
governance.


4. (U) Linking accomplishments to the broader policy
objectives listed above, Kouyate spent most of his time

discussing his administrative restructuring efforts such as
appointment of new ministers, governors and prefects;
progress on infrastructure development such as a better power
supply and road improvements; efforts to fight criminal
activity and drug trafficking; recruitment of 12,000 new
graduates to fill government jobs; progress towards a return
to an IMF funded program; and his success in attracting more
foreign aid. Kouyate also highlighted his recent appointment
of the commission to investigate alleged human rights abuses
committed during the January/February strikes, saying
&people believed me incapable of establishing this
commission and now that it has been created, I will ensure
that it works correctly.8


5. (U) Touching briefly on future initiatives for his
government, Kouyate said that he plans to continue to fight
corruption. He specifically mentioned the embezzlement case
against controversial millionaire Mamadou Syllah, stating
that the case would be pursued. Kouyate also commented on
his continued priority for combating HIV infection and AIDs.
He briefly mentioned upcoming legislative elections saying
that the National Independent Electoral Commission has been
named, but did not provide any further details.

--------------
AUDIENCE REACTIONS
--------------


6. (SBU) While the audience was generally quiet, although
perhaps not entirely attentive throughout the lengthy
discourse, some of Kouyate,s statements were met with
audible grumblings from the Assembly. When Kouyate mentioned
completion of a specific road project, the audience was
noticeably agitated and contacts later told poloff that the
road in question has not actually been finished. Comments
about government successes in achieving lower prices for rice
and other commodities were also met with audible
disagreement. Kouyate took credit for providing tens of
thousands of free mosquito nets to pregnant women and
children in rural areas although reportedly, it was actually
the Government of Japan that donated the nets to Guinea.


7. (SBU) Audience interest visibly perked up when National
Assembly deputies were given the opportunity to pose
questions directly to the Prime Minister. Over forty

CONAKRY 00001139 002 OF 002


questions were asked, which were noted by his delegation.
Kouyate was initially supposed to orally respond to questions
on October 12, but instead will submit written responses to
the National Assembly at a later, unspecified date. Among
the questions asked were the following:
- Why has the Prime Minister not traveled to the
interior of the country in order to listen to popular
concerns?
- What is the consensus government doing to rebuild
property
destroyed in January and February?
- Why were the newly appointed prefects and governors
disproportionately represented from the prime
minister,s own
ethnic group and from his hometown?
- Why are politicians manipulating and dividing youth
organizations?
- Could the government provide a balance sheet
reflecting profits
and losses with respect to rice sales?
- Why is the government looking to spend a large sum of
money on
the 50th anniversary celebration when the country
lacks basic
infrastructure?
- Does the Prime Minister belong to the majority party
or to any
of the existing opposition parties? Does he intend to
create
his own political party?
- What is the nature of Kouyate,s relationship with
President
Conte?
- What are Kouyate's intentions with respect to Libya?


8. (U) According to local press reports, a number of
deputies were dissatisfied with Kouyate,s speech. One was
quoted as saying that rather than speaking to the general
political situation, Kouyate simply reported on his
government,s activities. Another deputy reportedly said
that there were a number of inaccuracies: &some of the
activities he cited were initiated by his predecessors.8
Other deputies reportedly indicated that the Prime Minister
exaggerated some of his accomplishments by taking credit for
programs sponsored by the donor community. A deputy
representing the opposition told reporters that the speech
left him hungry, referring to a lack of political substance.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


9. (SBU) Despite nearly 80 minutes of uninterrupted
speaking, Kouyate,s speech seemed to lack the substance
people were looking for. The audience, both within the room,
and the wider audience tuning in via radio and television,
were reportedly anticipating a more forward-thinking
strategic outline that would define government priorities and
activities over the next few months. Instead, they were
presented with a lengthy overview of government
accomplishments, the success of a number of which may be
perceived as debatable.


10. (SBU) Strong attendance on the part of National Assembly
deputies suggests that they were recognizing Kouyate as a
legitimate government leader. At the same time, this is the
audience least likely to support Kouyate given that most of
them are part of the old regime, represented by the ruling
Party for Unity and Progress. They asked a number of hard
hitting questions and it is likely that Kouyate,s responses
will be eagerly anticipated. END COMMENT.
BROKENSHIRE