CEEAC summit condemns attempts to overthrow Chadian

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000254 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV AO AU BY CD CG CM CT GB EK TP SU CG SUBJECT: CEEAC summit condemns attempts to overthrow Chadian government ¶1. A special two-day summit of the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC) in Kinshasa March 10-11 condemned armed attempts to destabilize the Chadian government and reiterated its support for the government and people of Chad. The summit, organized by the DRC as holder of the CEEAC's rotational presidency, was called specifically to address the political and security situation in Chad. ¶2. In a communique issued March 11, the ten CEEAC member states called on all countries to refrain from actions threatening the stability of Chad. It appealed to all parties to respect previous agreements. It was signed by the seven heads of state (from Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo, and Sao Tome and Principe) and three ministers (from Angola, Cameroon, and Gabon) who participated in the meeting. ¶3. (U) The summit is the first CEEAC meeting under the DRC presidency. It received wide and favorable notice in the Kinshasa press. ¶4. (U) An informal Embassy translation of the communique follows: At the invitation of his Excellency Joseph KABILA KABANGE, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and current president of the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC),an extraordinary summit of Heads of State and Government of CEEAC member countries was held in Kinshasa on March 10, 2008. Taking part in this important meeting, Their Excellencies: Monsieur Theodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea; Monsieur Idriss DEBY ITNO, President of the Republic of CHAD; Monsieur Denis SASSOU NGUESSO, President of the Republic of Congo; Monsieur Fradique BANDEIRA MELO DE MENEZES, President of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe; Monsieur Frangois BOZIZE, President of the Central African Republic; Monsieur Pierre NKURUNZIZA, President of the Republic of Burundi; Monsieur Fernando DA PIEDADE DIAS DOS SANTOS, Prime Minister of the Republic of Angola; Monsieur Henri EYEBE A YISSI, Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Cameroon; Monsieur Jean Boniface ASSELE, Minister of Communication, Posts and Telecommunications and New Information Technologies of the Republic of Gabon. A single issue made up the agenda, namely, the political and security situation in CHAD following the events of early February ¶2008. After a word of welcome by His Excellency Monsieur Joseph KABILA KABANGE to his Guests and the report by His Excellency Monsieur Idriss DEBY ITNO, President of the Republic of CHAD, followed by that of His Excellency Monsieur Denis SASSOU NGUESSO, President of the Republic of Congo and Co-Mediator designated by the African Union and the minutes of the last Council of Ministers of COPAX by the Secretary General of CEEAC, the Heads of State and Government proceeded to a review of the situation and, following discussion during which each delegation took part, they agreed on the following resolutions: ¶I. The Heads of State and Government of CEEAC member States condemn the use of arms and other unconstitutional methods as means of acceding to power, as well as any destabilization of democratic institutions created through the will of the Chadian people. They express their complete solidarity with the Government and People of Chad and call on all countries to refrain from any initiative or attitude likely to infringe the constitutional order, security and territorial integrity of the Republic of Chad. II. The Heads of State and Government pledge their support to the President of the Republic of Congo, His Excellency Monsieur Denis SASSOU N'GUESSO and the Guide of the Great Libyan Arab, Socialist and Popular Jamahiriya, Monsieur MUHAMMAR AL-KADHAFI, in the exercise of their mandate as mediators which has been entrusted to them by the African Union. III. The Heads of State and Government call on all parties to the conflict to implement all previous Agreements, notably those of Tripoli and Riyadh between the Republic of Chad and the Republic of KINSHASA 00000254 002 OF 002 Sudan. They commend in addition the agreements concluded on August 13, 2007 in Ndjamena and in September 2007 in Syrte, as part of the inter-Chadian political dialogue and encourage the Government of the Republic of Chad to tirelessly continue the implementation of the these agreements in order to strengthen Rule of law and establish a sustainable and permanent peace in Chad. IV. With regard to the reconstruction and renovation of Chad, the Heads of State and Government commit themselves to organize urgent assistance for their Brother country. ¶V. Concerning humanitarian issues, they commend the initial deployment of EUFOR troops aimed at ensuring security for refugee camps, displaced persons as well as the personnel of humanitarian agencies. VI. The Heads of State and Government call on the international Community to provide the Chadian Government and People with manifold assistance commensurate with the dramatic events the country has just experienced. VII. The Heads of State and Government request, in addition, acceleration of the deployment of the joint United Nations African Union force in Darfur. Following completion of their work, the Heads of State and Government commended the initiative of the incumbent President of the CEEAC for having called this Summit and highly appreciated the hospitality offered to them and their delegations during their stay in Kinshasa. They also expressed their profound gratitude to His Excellency Monsieur Joseph KABILA KABANGE to the Government as well as the Congolese people for all the arrangements made for the success of this Summit. Done in Kinshasa on March 10, 2008. End informal Embassy translation of CEEAC communique. GARVELINK