LIBERIA: DEMARCHE ON THE CRISIS IN GUINEA

S E C R E T MONROVIA 000238 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/W-PDAVIS, INR/AA-BGRAVES E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2012 TAGS: PGOV PREL LI GV SUBJECT: LIBERIA: DEMARCHE ON THE CRISIS IN GUINEA REF: A. A) STATE 19838 B) CONAKRY 186 ¶B. C) CONAKRY 160 Classified By: Political Officer Silvia Eiriz for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d) ¶1. (SBU) Embassy delivered reftel demarche February 21 to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister for African and Asian Affairs Henry Fahnbulleh. Poloff also gave Fahnbulleh a copy of Embassy Conakry's press statement (See Reftel B). Fahnbulleh said he would advise the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the demarche. Fahnbulleh had told Poloff February 16 that the border between Liberia and Guinea remained open. ¶2. (C) Fahnbulleh stated that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has expressed concern about the situation in Guinea, but added that it may be difficult for the Government of Liberia to issue a press statement regarding the situation in Guinea due to a non-interference clause in the Mano River Union Framework. Fahnbulleh noted that the Guinean Army Chief of Staff had served in Liberia as head of the Guinean contingent of ECOMOG. ¶3. (C) Fahnbulleh said President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf traveled to Guinea February 20-21. According to Fahnbulleh, the President remained overnight in Conakry to send a signal that the situation in Guinea is stable. Fahnbulleh said that President Johnson Sirleaf said publicly in Guinea that peace and stability in Liberia are tied to peace and stability in Guinea and Sierra Leone. Fahnbulleh told Poloff that no text of the President's comments is available because they were not issued as a press statement. Fahnbulleh had no further details on President Johnson Sirleaf's trip to Guinea, but agreed to meet with Poloff later in the week for a more detailed readout. ¶4. (S) Fahnbulleh said the Government of Liberia is particularly concerned about reports of recruitment of Liberian ex-combatants. Fahnbulleh told Poloff that the Guinean Ambassador to Liberia has delivered 2 letters to the Government of Liberia charging that former Liberian combatants are fighting with the Guinean opposition. According to Fahnbulleh, the Guinean Ambassador said that Liberians are being recruited in Dualla. Fahnbulleh added that there are concerns that Aicha Conneh has recruited Liberian ex-combatants to fight in Guinea (See Reftel C). Mazel