Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ANTANANARIVO319
2008-04-24 13:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Antananarivo
Cable title:
COMORAN FOREIGN MINISTER INTERVIEWED IN REUNION
how-toVZCZCXRO6999 RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO DE RUEHAN #0319 1151356 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 241356Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1229 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000319
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ADDIS FOR AMBASSADOR COURVILLE
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, INR/AA, AND DRL
DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF/E RMEDRANO
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM PINR CN
SUBJECT: COMORAN FOREIGN MINISTER INTERVIEWED IN REUNION
REF: ANTANANARIVO 257 AND PREVIOUS
UNCLAS ANTANANARIVO 000319
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ADDIS FOR AMBASSADOR COURVILLE
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, INR/AA, AND DRL
DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF/E RMEDRANO
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM PINR CN
SUBJECT: COMORAN FOREIGN MINISTER INTERVIEWED IN REUNION
REF: ANTANANARIVO 257 AND PREVIOUS
1. (U) In a televised interview during a visit to Reunion on March
22, Comoran Foreign Minister Ahmed Jaffar declared that deposed
Anjouan leader Mohamed Bacar "should face the justice system in his
country [the Union of the Comoros] to respond for his actions on the
charges levied against him and his companions." FM Jaffar clarified
that Comoran Minister of Justice Mourad Said Ibrahim formally
guaranteed Bacar's case "has never been a question of the death
penalty" in a letter sent to his French counterpart Minister Rachida
Dati requesting Bacar's extradition. The Government of Comoros'
(GOC) request, which includes evidence of the torture, rape and
violent acts Bacar committed against the Anjouanese people, is being
represented by a lawyer named Verges.
2. (U) Jaffar said the dialogue initiated between the Comoran and
French presidents last September regarding Mayotte's status must be
followed up until a negotiated solution is found. Regarding the
proposed 2009 referendum when the residents of Mayotte will vote on
whether to become a French overseas "Department," Jaffar responded
that this initiative is only being pursued by a few elected
officials on the island. He insisted that in the eyes of
international law, Mayotte will always be a part of the Comoran
state.
MARQUARDT
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
ADDIS FOR AMBASSADOR COURVILLE
DEPT FOR AF/E, AF/FO, INR/AA, AND DRL
DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF/E RMEDRANO
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM PHUM PINR CN
SUBJECT: COMORAN FOREIGN MINISTER INTERVIEWED IN REUNION
REF: ANTANANARIVO 257 AND PREVIOUS
1. (U) In a televised interview during a visit to Reunion on March
22, Comoran Foreign Minister Ahmed Jaffar declared that deposed
Anjouan leader Mohamed Bacar "should face the justice system in his
country [the Union of the Comoros] to respond for his actions on the
charges levied against him and his companions." FM Jaffar clarified
that Comoran Minister of Justice Mourad Said Ibrahim formally
guaranteed Bacar's case "has never been a question of the death
penalty" in a letter sent to his French counterpart Minister Rachida
Dati requesting Bacar's extradition. The Government of Comoros'
(GOC) request, which includes evidence of the torture, rape and
violent acts Bacar committed against the Anjouanese people, is being
represented by a lawyer named Verges.
2. (U) Jaffar said the dialogue initiated between the Comoran and
French presidents last September regarding Mayotte's status must be
followed up until a negotiated solution is found. Regarding the
proposed 2009 referendum when the residents of Mayotte will vote on
whether to become a French overseas "Department," Jaffar responded
that this initiative is only being pursued by a few elected
officials on the island. He insisted that in the eyes of
international law, Mayotte will always be a part of the Comoran
state.
MARQUARDT