PROPOSED U.S. STATEMENT ON COMOROS

UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000138 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E AND AF/FO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS ASEC FR CN SUBJECT: PROPOSED U.S. STATEMENT ON COMOROS REF: ANTANANARIVO 137 ¶1. (SBU) As noted Reftel, the French Government has issued a strong statement of support for the Union of the Comoros and a condemnation of the illegitimate authorities governing the island of Anjouan. A rough translation follows in Paragraph Two. This comes in advance of French (and U.S.) participation in a multinational Mission to deliver an ultimatum to Col. Mohamed Bacar, Anjouan's warlord leader. We recommend the Department issue a similar statement and offer a proposed text in Paragraph Three. The purpose of the statement would be to add pressure to the illegitimate authorities on Anjouan to relinquish power peacefully and thus to avoid the bloodshed that is likely if the Union authorities decide to restore their national integrity through military force. ¶2. (U) Rough translation of French text issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: France is seriously concerned with the situation in the Comoros. It reiterates its full support to President Sambi and to this latter's tireless efforts, with the support of the African Union, South Africa and the international community, to maintain the integrity of the Union of the Comoros. France stresses the necessity to preserve unity and stability in the Comoros, seriously threatened by the behavior of the illegal authorities of Anjouan. The pressure brought by the African Union on the illegal authorities of Anjouan must be reinforced by targeted and coordinated measures. They shall have to be made by the UN Security Council, pursuant to the request made on February 2nd by the African Union during its summit in Addis Ababa, and by the European Union, which is finalizing a sanctions measure. France shall take part in a final mediation mission, the purpose for which has been decided by the group of the countries of the region during the African Union summit. We understand that President Sambi has accepted the principle of this ultimate mediation, led by South Africa with the support of France and the United States and also including the Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as the African Union Representative, Mr. Madeira. The nature of France's participation shall be determined once the date is determined. In case this ultimate mission fails, and if they continue to stand against the implementation of the requests of the African Union and that of the international community, the illegal authorities of Anjouan shall assume the consequences of their intransigence. The authority of the institutions of the Union of the Comoros must be restored without any further delay. It is an essential condition to ensure stability in the region as well as development for the Comoros, which is now jeopardized by this crisis. End text. ¶3. (SBU) Proposed U.S. text: The Government of the United States remains concerned at the ongoing impasse in the Comoros between the democratically elected government of the Union of the Comoros, led by President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, and the illegitimate government on the Comoran island of Anjouan. We continue to support the African Union in its effort to achieve a peaceful solution to the current crisis in the Comoros. We call again on the illegitimate leadership on the island of Anjouan to step aside and allow free and fair elections to be conducted by impartial authorities and monitored by the international community. In an effort to resolve this conflict without bloodshed, we have expressed our willingness to participate in a Mission, to be led by the Foreign Minister of the Republic of South Africa, seeking to persuade the illegal Anjouanese authorities to step aside. The Mission would also make clear to Anjouan's renegade leadership that the international community will hold it responsible for any consequences should it refuse to do so. End text. MARQUARDT