AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS, PRESSES FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DAKAR 001319

SIPDIS

PARIS PASS TO DEA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PU SNAR XY
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS, PRESSES FOR
ANTI-DRUG VIGILANCE

Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Marcia Bernicat for reasons 1.5
b/d.


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a series of meetings surrounding the
presentation of her credentials to Bissau-Guinean President
Joao Bernardo Vieira on November 6, 2008, Ambassador Bernicat
pressed for continued vigilance in the fight against
narco-trafficking and pledged U.S. engagement in the
anti-drug effort. The Ambassador was accompanied on this
trip by Political Counselor, the Guinea-Bissau Watcher,
LEGATT and Assistant LEGATT, DAO, and RSO. Urging
transparency and accountability, the Ambassador stressed that
the United States and the international community stood ready
to assist Guinea-Bissau in the fight against drug
trafficking, but that the country had to work hard to
overcome the perception that it is a narco-state. In the
run-up to the November 16, 2008 national legislative
elections, the capital city of Bissau was abuzz with campaign
rallies and the news of President-elect Barack Obama,s
victory in the U.S. election. The Ambassador was joined by
seven other ambassadors in a well-orchestrated set of
presentation of credentials ceremonies. END SUMMARY.

Ambassador Urges Viera to Continue Anti-Drug Cooperation
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2. (C) On November 6, 2008, following the official ceremony
of the presentation of her credentials, the Ambassador,
accompanied by POLCOUNS, congratulated President Vieira on
the July 2008 arrest of the Venezuelan pilot suspected of
transporting narcotics into Guinea-Bissau and the subsequent
seizure of the plane. The follow up investigation, she
noted, served as a model for U.S. efforts and international
cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking in
Guinea-Bissau. Nevertheless, the eventual release from
custody of the pilot and the failure to confiscate any
narcotics were evidence of the systemic problems facing
Guinea-Bissau in its anti-drug effort, she observed.
Guinea-Bissau,s actions are currently under intense
scrutiny, she added, and the international perception of the
country becoming a narco-state far outweighs the reality of
its few partial successes. The United States is prepared to
increase its engagement in the counter-narcotics effort and
stands ready to provide immediate operational support to
Bissau-Guinean law enforcement officials, the Ambassador
pledged. However, the government of Guinea-Bissau would need
to demonstrate greater transparency and accountability before
substantial equipment or material support could be
forthcoming.


3. (C) After congratulating the Ambassador on the results of
the U.S. election, President Vieira urged the U.S. to re-open
its Embassy in Bissau as soon as possible. President Vieira
acknowledged the systemic problems which hamper
Guinea-Bissau,s anti-narcotics efforts, and cited a need for
greater training and resources to fight the drug traffickers.
The Secretary of State for International Cooperation,
Ambassador Artur Silva, suggested that other countries in the
region had a more serious drug trafficking problem, and
encouraged the international community to support a regional
response to the narcotics trafficking. The Ambassador agreed
a regional approach was required, citing the interagency and
international strategy being spearheaded by the U.S.
Department of State,s Bureau of International Law
Enforcement (INL). She disagreed with Silva that drug seizure
statistics were an accurate measure of the volume of drugs
being trafficked in Guinea-Bissau.


4. (C) In a previous meeting on November 5, 2008 with Silva,
the Ambassador also applauded Guinea-Bissau,s anti-drug
efforts in July and August of 2008, while admitting
disappointment with the results. In that meeting, Silva
explained the release of the Venezuelan pilot as being a
consequence of an independent judiciary. Tacitly
acknowledging that a pending Interpol Red Notice should have
been sufficient cause to hold the pilot, Silva noted that the
judge who ordered the pilot,s release had been suspended
from the bench pending an investigation into possible
corruption. Silva, educated in Brazil and London, also
echoed a refrain heard from every Bissau-Guinean official
with whom the Ambassador met: Guinea-Bissau lacks the
resources to fight the drug traffickers.

Meeting with the Justice Ministry and Attorney General
-------------- --------------


5. (C) At a lunch following the credentials ceremony on
November 6, 2008, the Ambassador -- joined by the Ambassador

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from Canada and EMBOFFS -- praised Minister of Justice
Carmelita Pires, Attorney General Luis Manuel Cabral, and
Judicial Police Director Lucinda Ucharie, for their
courageous efforts and emphasized that their important work
was closely followed and appreciated in Embassy Dakar and in
Washington, D.C. The United States and the international
community were eager to support them in their dangerous task,
the Ambassador assured them.


6. (C) In response, Pires acknowledged the failures and
vulnerabilities of her government, while expressing hope in a
nascent regional Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS)
plan to fight drug trafficking. Pires noted the delays
inherent in the United Nations, bureaucracy highlight the
importance of complimentary bilateral support. Pires
insisted, however, that in order to effectively fight drug
trafficking in Guinea-Bissau, the government and the donors
needed to wage a holistic battle against poverty in the
country. In order for such a battle to happen, the United
States must first re-open its Embassy in Bissau, argued the
Minister. In a private conversation during the lunch, the
Ambassador re-iterated to Pires that greater transparency and
accountability was needed before the United States could
provide equipment, adding that if it was ever discovered that
U.S.-provided equipment was being used to facilitate the
trafficking of drugs, it would likely be the end of U.S.
bilateral law enforcement assistance. (BIO Note: Pires is
competing in the November 16 legislative elections in the
Bissau constituency in which she was born and raised. While
ministers are not required to hold legislative office, she
would not speculate as to whether she would retain her
portfolio in a new government. End BIO note)

Meeting with the Chief of the Armed Forces
--------------


7. (C) In a meeting later on November 6, 2008, the
Ambassador, accompanied by EMBOFFS, assured Bissau-Guinea
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Tagme Na Wai that the United
States was following intently events in the country and stood
ready to assist Guinea-Bissau in their anti-drug efforts.
She cautioned Na Wai, however, that the United States, along
with the rest of international community, had "doubts" about
Bissau-Guinean armed forces involvement in drug trafficking.
She noted that it was unlikely that former Navy Chief Bubo Na
Tchuto, a long-suspected leading trafficker who apparently
failed in a coup attempt in August, 2008, had facilitated the
drug trade by himself. The Ambassador cautioned Na Wai that
drug trafficking is an "animal" that cannot be controlled and
that the U.S. goal is to help Guinea-Bissau avoid the fate of
Columbia and Mexico.


8. (C) Na Wai, stone-faced and speaking in Creole, responded
that Guinea-Bissau needs the West, in part because &only the
West8 produces electricity, planes and boats. The armed
forces of Guinea-Bissau are clean, he insisted early in their
exchange, and are in no way involved with the drug trade. He
stated that the armed forces simply lacks the means to combat
the traffickers, comparing the country to a turtle who would
like to dance, but lacks the ability. Na Wai observed that
four months of salary arrears also impedes the military,s
ability to respond, while insisting that Guinea-Bissau needs
international partners to help in the anti-narcotics fight.


9. (C) Na Wai stated that the downfall of Navy Chief Na
Tchuto was fortuitous, and that if Na Wai had not intervened,
the attempted coup might have been disastrous. In response
to the international community's doubts raised by the
Ambassador, Na Wai said that the West should "trust us."
When pressed by the Ambassador that Na Wai had to build that
trust and that the doubts of the donors must be addressed, Na
Wai appeared to be taken aback and began to anxiously tap on
the arm of the chair. He asked to know specifically to what
doubts the Ambassador was referring. When the Ambassador
responded that donors had little reason to believe
Western-provided equipment and training would not be used by
the traffickers, Na Wai appeared to relax, and reminded the
Ambassador that he and his fellow soldiers had made great
sacrifices dating back to the war of independence and that it
would be shameful for those who had given their blood for
their country to see Guinea-Bissau's reputation destroyed.
He concluded with an appeal that the United States should
trust him personally.

Meeting with the Prime Minister
--------------


10. (C) In a final November 6, 2008, meeting with Prime

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Minister Carlos Correia, the Ambassador repeated her praise
for certain law enforcement efforts, while expressing
disappointment over the eventual release of the Venezuelan
pilot. She assured Correia that the United States and
international community were ready to assist Guinea-Bissau in
its anti-narcotics efforts. Correia noted that Guinea-Bissau
neither produces nor consumes drugs and yet is victimized by
the production and consumption of others. Like other
interlocutors, Correia insisted that Guinea-Bissau lacks the
means necessary to fight the drug traffickers.

Obama-mania
--------------


11. (SBU) Bissau, which is preparing for the November 16,
2008, legislative elections, was buzzing with campaign
rallies, complete with fiery speeches, blaring music and
legions of dancers. Political banners adorned every street
and countless buildings, while cars and trucks draped in
party logos patrolled the potholed streets imploring people
on loud speakers to get out and vote. President-elect
Obama,s victory added to the palpable excitement, prompting
cheers of "Obama!" from local residents, and messages of
congratulations from the Ambassador,s interlocutors,
including a congratulatory letter from President Vieira
(being sent septel).


12. (SBU) The long-delayed and much-requested presentation
of credentials included not only the U.S. Ambassador, but
also ambassadors from Canada, the Congo, Turkey, India and
the Vatican (based in Dakar) and from Egypt and Iran (based
in Guinea-Conakry). Many of the Ambassadors had been waiting
several months for an opportunity to present their
credentials.


13. (C) COMMENT: The credential ceremony, a brief interview
with the press and the subsequent meetings offered the
opportunity to show support for law enforcement officials
while putting senior officials on notice that their actions
are being closely monitored in Washington and Europe. While
officials were encouraged to take concrete steps to build
confidence among the donor community in their
counter-narcotics commitment, many disappointingly resorted
to excuses for inaction, or in the case of Tagme Na Wai, a
blanket appeal to, in his words, "trust me." Nevertheless,
post remains hopeful that, armed with the knowledge that U.S.
operational support is standing by -- and that material
support is contingent on more concrete confidence-building
measures -- senior Bissau-Guinean government officials will
work with us to build upon their modest successes. END
COMMENT.
BERNICAT