FRENCH CONCERNED THAT GOG IS COUNTING ON FOREIGN

S E C R E T CONAKRY 000719 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2018 TAGS: PGOV EAID PREL ASEC GV SUBJECT: FRENCH CONCERNED THAT GOG IS COUNTING ON FOREIGN AID TO FULFILL FINANCIAL PROMISES REF: A. CONAKRY 0701 ¶B. CONAKRY 0709 Classified By: POL/ECON CHIEF SHANNON CAZEAU FOR REASON 1.4 B AND D ¶1. (S) Embassy DATT met with the French Political Attache to discuss contact's recent meeting with the Minister Secretary General of the Presidency, Alpha Ibrahima Keira. The French Attache asked Keira how the GoG plans to pay for the financial commitments it has made to various groups, and in particular, the significant military pay raise that is supposed to go into effect in January. Keira reportedly said that with Obama's election, the GoG is expecting a significant increase in aid assistance from the United States. Contact told DATT that Keira did not seem to understand that President-elect Obama had not yet actually been sworn into office, nor that any changes in foreign assistance would likely takes months to go into effect. When contact alluded to this possibility, Keira reportedly said that the GoG would then look to China for financial assistance. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶2. (S) Contact's expressed concern that the Guinean Government is counting on increased foreign aid in the new year to meet its considerable financial obligations echoes concerns raised by the World Bank Representative (reftels). Recent public statements by various government officials alluding to the anticipated $2 billion in debt relief as a result of meeting the HIPC completion point also lends legitimacy to this concern. Available information suggests that the GoG does not currently possess the budgetary resources needed to meet the commitments that will come due in January. END COMMENT. RASPOLIC