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