PRESIDENT TOURE MEETS CNDD DELEGATION FROM GUINEA

UNCLAS BAMAKO 000971

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ML
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT TOURE MEETS CNDD DELEGATION FROM GUINEA


1. Senior members of Guinea's newly formed National Council
for Development and Democracy (CNDD) met with President
Amadou Toumani Toure in Bamako on December 30. The Guinean
delegation was led by CNDD vice president Brigadier General
Mamadou "Toto" Camara. According to Mali's state-run media,
Camara carried a message from "the new Guinean Head of
State," Captain Moussa Dadis Camara.


2. After meeting with President Toure, Camara spoke briefly
to reporters. Camara said he traveled to Bamako to explain
to President Toure why the Guinean military assumed power
following the death of former President Lansana Conte. "We
say to the international community," said Camara, "that what
has happened in Guinea was not a coup d'etat. The National
Assembly did not have the legitimacy to assure a transition.
If we had tried to apply the constitution, the people would
not have accepted it. I explained all of this to the
President along with the direction of the CNDD which will
leave power in 2010. This deadline coincides with the end of
the term of the deceased President, Lansana Conte. We are
ready to put in place a government that will be led by a
civilian. This is in fact already underway since the Prime
Minister for the transition named yesterday was Kabine
Komara. After the legislative elections, we will resolve the
question of the constitution, organize presidential
elections, and pass power to the civilians."


3. Malian press reported that Camara and his delegation -
whose other members remained unnamed - had already visited
Guinea Bissau and were scheduled to stop in Monrovia and
Freetown after visiting Bamako.
LEONARD