Secretary Rice's June 7th, 2007, conversation

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 083798

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2032
TAGS: OVIP KOUYATE LANSANA PGOV PREL GV
SUBJECT: Secretary Rice's June 7th, 2007, conversation
with Guinean Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate


1. (U) Classified by: AF Acting A/S Linda Thomas-
Greenfield. Reasons 1.4 (b) and d)


2. (U) June 7, 2007, 10:00 am, Washington, DC.


3. (U) Participants:

U.S.
The Secretary
PA Sean McCormack
AF PDAS Linda Thomas-Greenfield
DRL DAS Jeff Krilla
AF/W Notetaker

GUINEA
Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate
Ousmane Dore, Minister of Economics and Finance
Mamady Traore, Minister of Industry and Commerce

Ousmane Afia Diallo, Chief of Staff for the Prime Minister
Aboubacar Koulibaly, Counselor for the Prime Minister


4. (C) SUMMARY. In a frank discussion of Guinea's
recent turmoil, Prime Minister Kouyate described the
challenges his government faces in implementing reform and
improving conditions for the Guinean people. Defining
responsibility as "the ability to respond," Kouyate
outlined his government's efforts to develop the capacity
to address the people's desperate needs. Kouyate appealed
to the Secretary for continued U.S. assistance,
particularly on security sector reform and promoting youth
employment. Noting Guinea's need for Kouyate's optimistic
leadership style, the Secretary assured the Prime Minister
that the United States would continue to support Guinea's
efforts to remain stable and to move toward democratic and
transparent government. END SUMMARY.

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MANAGING EXPECTATIONS
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5. (U) Throughout the discussion, Kouyate described the
need to balance managing the people's expectations and
signaling the government's dedication to change. In the
weeks following his return to Conakry, Kouyate plans to
send Finance Minister Dore to present the government's
budget for 2007 to the National Assembly. Kouyate noted
that when we came to office the National Assembly had
assumed that the unrest and strained government coffers
would prevent the government from presenting a 2007
budget. Instead the National Assembly asked that Kouyate
make a concerted effort to present a 2008 budget.
Kouyate, however, decided to push forward with a 2007
budget to demonstrate his administration's effort to break
from past practices of fiscal irresponsibility. Similarly
with the postponed legislative elections, Kouyate
explained that despite the destruction of administrative
facilities in 30 of Guinea's 33 prefectures, his
government will "pay any price" to avoid postponing the
elections a second time. Kouyate asked for U.S. electoral
assistance to help address Guinea's lack of administrative
capacity.

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SECURITY SECTOR REFORM
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6. (C) Among the various challenges Guinea faces, Kouyate
identified the security sector as having the greatest need
for U.S. assistance. Because the Army was doing the work
of civilian police, Kouyate noted, the civilian population
was exposed to excessive violence. Restructuring and
reforming the military were further complicated by the
deep generational gap between the older ranking officers
and their younger junior counterparts. Kouyate noted that
some of the officers who joined the military following
independence some fifty years ago remain in the military,
resulting in fewer opportunities for young officers to
rise through the ranks. He emphasized that reforming the
military must be done in an open and transparent process
to prevent military personnel from thinking they would be
demobilized without the means to earn a living. Citing
the Liberian and Sierra Leonean demobilization programs as
examples, Kouyate sought assistance in finding ways to
demobilize Guinea's bloated army by creating non-military
employment opportunities. Assuring Kouyate of U.S.
support, the Secretary told Kouyate that the U.S. would

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work with Guinea to support his government's efforts.

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MINING CONCESSIONS REVIEW
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7. (C) Without referring to specific concession
agreements, Kouyate briefly addressed his government's
controversial efforts to review the mining and mineral
concessions signed by the previous governments. While
acknowledging that some of the previous ministers were
notoriously corrupt, Kouyate affirmed that the agreements
were legal and would be honored by his government. He
further argued, however, that the companies and the
government have a common interest in reviewing the
agreements. Citing the government's inability to respond
to the demands of the people as the reason for the recent
violence, Kouyate noted that Alcoa lost approximately $32
million in revenue during the unrest. Admitting that he
will not be able to please everyone, Kouyate assured the
Secretary that his government would try to remain

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objective in its attempts to ensure that the agreements
provide sufficient revenue sharing to help provide the
government of Guinea with the ability to respond.
Emphasizing the importance of Guinea remaining objective,
the Secretary commented that if Guinea treats other
fairly, Guinea would be treated similarly.

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YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT
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8. (U) Describing Guinea's recent turmoil, Kouyate
commented that Guinea's youth would no longer tolerate the
gap between Guinea's economic potential and its
impoverished reality. Noting that fifty percent of
Guinea's youth are unemployed, Kouyate stated that he was
shocked to see that after years of tolerating unacceptable
conditions, the youth were now willing to sacrifice their
lives for the chance at a better future. Kouyate
announced that he planned to hold a "Youth Day" in which
he will meet youth representatives to discuss mobilizing
the country to identify ways to improve youth employment
opportunities. Kouyate further clarified that his
government must look outside of Conakry for employment
options in order to avoid concentrating Guinea's
unemployed youth in the capital.


9. (U) Looking to Guinea's education system, Kouyate
noted that as with all other areas of government services,
corruption and a lack of infrastructure have limited the
government's capacity. Noting the First Lady's Education
Initiative, Kouyate thanked the Secretary for the USAID
education advisor's recent trips to Guinea, and welcomed
both the Secretary and the education advisor to future
visits to Conakry.
RICE