NATIONAL ROUNDTABLE GENERATES HARD-HITTING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000448

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM ASEC GV
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ROUNDTABLE GENERATES HARD-HITTING
DISCUSSION


1. (U) SUMMARY. The UNDP sponsored a three-day national
roundtable in Conakry, which closes a series of roundtables
held over the last few months in each of Guinea's 33
prefectures and five communes. While the dialogue itself may
have been somewhat routine, the conference was unusual in
terms of the overall tone and generally blunt discussion of
Guinea's political and economic challenges. The Special
Representative of the President of ECOWAS demanded a plan of
action and urged Guinea to look to its future instead of its
past. A union leader publicly declared the president
medically unfit for office while the Minister of Defense
humbly apologized for recent military violence. While the
conference declaration does not represent any new ideas, it
does serve as a useful benchmark, if not roadmap, for the new
prime minister. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) With funding provided by the UNDP Consolidation and
Peace Fund, IFES organized a three-day conference aimed at
promoting national dialogue. The conference was held in
Conakry and attended by an estimated 450 participants
representing a wide range of Guinean actors including
government, civil society, trade unions, the business
community, and the international community. The event served
as the culmination of a series of national dialogue
conferences organized by IFES throughout the country's 33
prefectures and five communes of Conakry, beginning April 10.
(NOTE - IFES also receives significant funding from the USG
for democracy promotion activities).


3. (U) Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare did not attend
the opening ceremony, but sent the Minister of Defense as his
personal representative. Several other members of the Souare
government also participated in the discussions, including
the ministers of national reconciliation, education, justice,
decentralization, and health. The new Secretary General of
the President, Alpha Ibrahima Keira, attended the opening
ceremony, but left before it was over. For the USG, the
Charge attended the opening ceremony, and a TCN (Third
Country National) team leader in the USAID technical office
for democracy and good governance observed various sessions
throughout the duration of the conference.

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LESS TALK, MORE ACTION
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4. (U) Within the international community and Guinean
society itself, Guineans are generally seen as very good at
talking about issues, but slow to act when it comes to
addressing those issues. Although the conference has not yet
generated any concrete action plan, it does appear to be
somewhat different from its predecessors in terms of the open
manner of speech and often blunt criticism of Guinea's
political situation.


5. (U) The Special Representative of the President of
ECOWAS, Ambassador Edward Aina (Nigeria),delivered a
particularly tough message. In a statement directed at the
president, Aina noted that Africa's archives are full of
speeches, declarations, and resolutions, but that political
will and action are lacking. Commenting on the fact that he
was eleven years old when Guinea gained its independence
fifty years ago, he asked what Guinea has accomplished during
that timeframe. "What has become of the Guinea that was the
vanguard of independence and pan-africanism? What has been
done with the natural and human resources that have been
exploited? What legacy has Guinea left for its current
population, especially its youth?" Aina stressed that
ECOWAS, of which Guinea is a founding member, is waiting for
a plan of action. At one point, Aina said "a bird that
continues to look at its shadow will never fly," alluding to
Guinea's focus on its past glories and tragedies, rather than
the demands of its future.

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CONCERNS ABOUT PRESIDENT'S HEALTH
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6. (U) Mme Serah Rabiatou Diallo, Secretary General of the
National Confederation of Guinean Workers (CNTG),was equally
blunt in her published speech, which was endorsed by the
Unions-Intersyndicale. She stated that President Conte's
illness, which dates back to 2002, prevents him from
effectively and responsibly carrying out his presidential
duties. Further, Rabiatou emphasized that Guinea's legal
code (Loi Fundamentale) explicitly requires that the
president be of "irreproachable physical and moral" health.


CONAKRY 00000448 002 OF 002


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MILITARY APOLOGIZES
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7. (U) Representing the Minister of Defense, the Army Chief
of Staff publicly acknowledged a host of problems facing the
military including a lack of resources and a "deficit of
patriotism and civic understanding." He assured participants
that although the military has been responsible for recent
violence, military leaders are not sitting on their hands.
He noted that the military as an institution is shocked,
humiliated, and dishonored by these events. "That is why, in
total humility (I) present to ...President Conte and the
Guinean people, our sincere excuses for the mistakes
committed by (certain) elements."

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AUDIENCE REACTIONS
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8. (SBU) Rabiatou's comments about the president's perceived
incapacitation did not elicit any noticeable response from
participants. When the Minister of Defense mentioned
President Conte during his opening speech speech, the
audience was absolutely silent. Both culture and protocol
demand that listeners automatically applaud each time the
president's name is mentioned. They did not. The lack of
response was so noticeable that the Minister of Defense
paused and said "I said his Excellency, President Lansana
Conte." At that point, the audience laughed and
half-heartedly clapped their hands.

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REHASHING OLD ISSUES
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9. (U) The conference resulted in a host of recommendations
dealing with improved governance, the economy, education,
health, security sector reform, and economic and political
integration. None of the issues are new. Elections were not
mentioned specifically, although there were recommendations
to strengthen the National Independent Electoral Commission
(CENI).

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COMMENT
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10. (U) While Guineans are not new to talking about what
needs to be done, the tone of this conference appeared
different from those of the past. Embassy TCN observed a
palpable desire for change, and noted that despite the recent
government reshuffling that has some people worried about a
return to the old regime, people were honest and critical in
their comments. As always, the real test will be to see if
any concrete action comes out of the discussion. However,
the conference declaration provides a useful benchmark, if
not roadmap, for the new prime minister. END COMMENT.

BROKENSHIRE