GUINEA'S NEW PRIME MINISTER ASSURES AMBASSADOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CONAKRY 000229

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2018
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL GV
SUBJECT: GUINEA'S NEW PRIME MINISTER ASSURES AMBASSADOR
CARTER ON ELECTIONS, ECONOMIC REFORM

REF: CONAKRY 201

Classified By: DCM Kent C. Brokenshire


1. (C) Summary: In a friendly and informative hour-long
meeting with Guinea's new Prime Minister, Ambassador Carter
highlighted U.S. policy priorities, and urged Prime Minister
Souare to improve communication with the populace and move
towards election and economic reform. The Prime Minister
admitted that he faces daunting difficulties, but said
elections were Guinea's best option to avert civil violence
or a military coup. He vowed to move forward with National
Assembly elections, though he mentioned no date. Fighting
corruption, improving the country's investment climate and
increasing food security also topped his list of priorities.
Souare was particularly concerned with corruption, claiming
it has permeated every aspect of government. In the same
breath he vowed to support President Conte 'to the end,'
stating that Conte has done much good for the country for
which he never received credit. While Prime Minister Souare
said all the right things, the halls and living rooms of his
house were crowded with anxious job seekers, several of whom
are known scoundrels. End Summary.

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PM's FIRST MEETING WITH A FOREIGN AMBASSADOR
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2. (C) In a May 24 meeting at the private residence of
Guinea's new prime minister, Ambassador Carter and Ahmed
Tidiane Souare exchanged views on a range of topics touching
on US-Guinea relations including elections, economic reform,
good governance, narcotics and food security. The meeting was
Souare's first encounter with a foreign Ambassador since
being sworn in as prime minister the previous day. The
meeting was arranged by a senior LES, who has known Souare
intimately since the pair were students together in high
school and later at the Boke College of Mining. LES described
Souare who received a degree in mining engineering, as an
excellent student who was consistently ranked number one in
his class throughout his academic career. The meeting, which
DCM and LES also attended, took place in the Prime Minister's
stately private residence. Souare's neighborhood was a
bustling scene, with official vehicles crowding the streets,
soldiers of the Presidential Guard keeping order, crowds of
curious onlookers strolling around, and market women on the
sidewalk tending cooking fires and selling food. Inside the
dwelling, the living and dining rooms were crowded with
likely job seekers waiting for an interview with the PM.


3. (C) The Ambassador was immediately shown into a separate
room where the Prime Minister greeted him warmly. The
Ambassador congratulated Souare on his appointment as prime
minister, and assured the PM that the US is prepared to help
Guinea in its transition towards democracy. He stated that US
goals in Guinea rest on three pillars of policy, namely
elections, economic reform, and good governance. To these he
added a fourth pillar - food security, for which the Bush
Administration is seeking funds from Congress. The Ambassador
noted that the Government of Guinea had made no official
request for food assistance from the US despite informing the
Embassy that it is in need of relief. Ambassador Carter said
food security is directly linked to the other three issues,
since poor governance and ill-conceived economic policies,
namely the banning exports of all food items, are greatly
exacerbating the food situation in the country. The Prime
Minister readily agreed, saying the export ban is
short-sighted and economically destructive in the long term.

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A CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE
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4. (C) The Ambassador went on to state that Souare has
inherited a difficult situation. He noted the government of
Guinea faces a crisis of confidence with its own population
in part because it makes no effort to get its message across
to the people, or to communicate with the population in the
provinces. Crumbling infrastructure, unchecked corruption and
government collusion with drug traffickers all undermine
public confidence in the state. As a result, the average
Guinean has no faith in the government or the President.
However, one positive legacy of the previous government was
the nomination of a number of talented and dedicated
governors and prefets in the provinces who have gained the
confidence of the people. The Ambassador assured the Prime
Minister that despite the challenges ahead, the US is
prepared to assist, but not lead Guinea through its
transition process.


CONAKRY 00000229 002 OF 003


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COCAINE CONNECTION
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5. (C) Going back to the issue of narcotics trafficking, the
Ambassador said that if current trends continue, Guinea could
soon replace neighboring Guinea Buissau as the drug transit
center of West Africa. Elements of the government, including
the presidential guard and President Conte's son, Ousmane
Conte, are implicated in drug trafficking. The Ambassador
related how in a recent drug bust (reftel) police confiscated
a ton of cocaine and arrested a number of Latin American
suspects. Two weeks later, all the suspects had been
released, and the weight of the confiscated drugs had dropped
to 345 kilos. The following week the police put on a show of
destroying the drugs, but refused the Ambassador's request
for a sample to analyze, calling it an affront to 'national
sovereignty.' The Ambassador said drug trade is organized but
not institutionalized in Guinea; there is still time to
eradicate it before drugs begin to find their way to users in
the local population. The Ambassador stressed that the US
views narcotics as a security issue.

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TOP PRIORITY: ELECTIONS
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6. (C) Ambassador Carter said free and fair elections are the
best way for the government to regain the confidence of the
people. Thus far, however, the government has been satisfied
letting the donor community foot the bill for democracy,
while providing only token amounts to the Independent
National Electoral Commission. "If elections are the
government top priority, the government should fund it like a
top priority." he said. By moving forward with elections, the
Souare government could convincingly demonstrate that there
are peaceful ways to bring about positive change, that there
are alternatives to widespread unrest or the threat of a
military coup. For this reason the USG and the rest of the
international community will be looking very carefully at the
Souare's choices for various cabinet posts. Ambassador Carter
shifted to the positives, stating that Guinea has enormous
natural and human capacity potential. It was once the rock of
stability in the region, as well as the breadbasket and
watershed of West Africa. Through elections, economic reform
and good governance, Guinea can regain its former status.


7. (C) Ambassador Carter then informed the Prime Minister
that he would be departing Guinea in July for an assignment
with the Bureau of African Affairs. While he was saddened to
leave, he said he will follow developments in Guinea, and
will continue to play an active role in the region from
Washington. Ambassador Carter urged the PM to work closely
with the Charge following his departure.

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THE PRIME MINISTER: AGREEMENT ON MAJOR POINTS
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8. (C) The Prime Minister, who appeared to have been closely
listening to the Ambassador's points despite the frequent
ringing of the three cellular telephones in front of him,
said he shared nearly all the concerns raised by the
Ambassador. He stated that his first priority will be to name
a cabinet with the credibility to regain public trust. He
also agreed that free and open elections are the surest way
to avoid violence and promote stability. He said he will
address elections as well as the other issues once he
appoints his cabinet. Note: He made no mention of specific
appointments or the ministries that would be affected. End
Note.


9. (C) The PM said he had worked for 10 years in the Ministry
of Finance, and therefore took particular interest in some of
the economic and governance issues raised by the Ambassador.
He said that after 50 years of independence Guinea remains a
country 'on the negative side of the ledger' because
initiatives to improve the country are consistently derailed
by other interests. He noted that the first export ban, which
passed over his objections, was a quick-fix solution designed
to appease an ignorant public that knew nothing about
economics or international trade. "We all knew it was idiotic
but no one dared stand up to is since it was a populist move"
(designed to prevent unrest). "This is no way to build
Guinea. Our economy is suffering," he said.

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THE MANY, THE CORRUPT
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CONAKRY 00000229 003 OF 003



10. (C) He admitted that one of his biggest concerns is the
level of corruption in government. According to Souare,
corruption is evolving into part of the national character
and establishing itself as a legitimate trait in the mores of
the people. He noted that the recent audit of a number of
government ministries provided some figures on how much money
had disappeared from government coffers, but the audits left
out the names of those responsible. "What the audits implied
was that everyone was guilty, which means that no one was
guilty," said Souare. "Now all bureaucrats are busy trying to
get as rich as possible through corruption."


11. (C) Turning to political forces in Guinea, the PM said
that, contrary to press reports, he enjoys excellent
relations with the unions, and was once publicly praised by
the unions for his honesty in governance. He hoped to further
his partnership with Guinea's influential unions during his
tenure as PM. He particularly wished to work with unions to
implement needed economic reforms.

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PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MINING INDUSTRY
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12. (C) The Prime Minister noted with some dismay that Guinea
does not properly exploit its economic wealth, and that
having two thirds of the world's reserves of bauxite provides
few benefits if the proceeds are not properly channeled for
the public good. On the subject of multinational companies,
he said the government needs to work with corporations
willing to do business in Guinea and not drive them away. He
does not favor revising agreements with mining companies,
saying that such revisions would strain relations between the
government and international companies. "We need to act
professionally with our partners," he said.


13. (C) The PM closed the discussion by praising the legacy
of President Conte, saying that Conte has done much for the
country for which he never received credit. While making no
mention of specific contributions from Conte, the PM said it
is unfair to claim that the President has done nothing
positive for Guinea in 26 years of rule. "We need to support
him to the end," he said in closing


14. (C) Upon leaving the residence LES noted the presence of
a sizable number of former cabinet ministers, governors and
prefets waiting to see the new Prime Minister. He recognized
a number of familiar faces, and later noted that all had
served in the discredited pre-Kouyate government, and none
were known for holding enlightened views on democracy and
transparency. LES believed they were waiting to see the PM in
the hopes of finding employment in the new government.

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COMMENT
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15. (C) Prime Minister Souare said all the right things, but
he came up short on depth and specifics. He mentioned no date
for elections, made no suggestions on using the audits to dig
deeper into the issue of government corruption, and did not
respond to the Ambassador's remarks on Guinea's growing
narcotics trafficking problem. During a meeting with donor
countries on May 26, Souare told the international community
that the government is ready to hold elections, but is
counting on donors to play a critical financial and technical
role. It was clear that while he extolled the importance of
elections, human rights and economic reform, the new PM
deftly kept his options open to foist the success (and
failure) of these issues on the donors. As Ambassador Carter
cautioned him, "We will not judge your government but we will
measure your actions carefully."
CARTER