EMBASSY VATICAN LINKS NGO SANT'EGIDIO WITH AFRICAN BUREAU

UNCLAS VATICAN 000097 SIPDIS SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY - (MODIFIED SUBJ LINE) DEPT FOR EUR/WE LARREA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PHUM SOCI UG IV VT SUBJECT: EMBASSY VATICAN LINKS NGO SANT'EGIDIO WITH AFRICAN BUREAU ¶1. (SBU) Post hosted a digital video conference (DVC) May 25, linking the Community of Sant'Egidio, a Vatican-related NGO, with the Africa Bureau. Embassy Paris's Africa watcher and staff from S/WCI also joined the DVC. Sant'Egidio responded to questions raised by AF on issues related to conflicts in Northern Uganda and Cote d'Ivoire. The discussion of Northern Uganda centered on the credibility of current peace talks in Juba and their probability of success. Discussion about Cote d'Ivoire focused on the Ouagadougou Peace Accords and the likelihood of successful elections in the coming months or years given logistical constraints. ¶2. (SBU) Embassy Vatican hopes to continue connecting Sant'Egidio with the Department and relevant Embassies via DVC. We will continue our own reporting on the Community's initiatives, but have found great value in getting the experts to speak directly. Post would be happy to work with any AF office or embassy in the region to communicate in this way with Sant'Egidio here in Rome. Please contact POL/MGT officer Peter Ganser, if interested. Our next event will likely be a July discussion with the Community's Great Lakes expert, Don Matteo Zuppi. ROONEY