GABON/CAR: PRESIDENT BOZIZE IN LIBREVILLE FOR TALKS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LIBREVILLE 000571

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TAGS: PREL PHUM KPKO CT GB
SUBJECT: GABON/CAR: PRESIDENT BOZIZE IN LIBREVILLE FOR TALKS

REF: BANGUI 0213


1. (SBU) Central African Republic President Francois Bozize
flew to Libreville December 2 for talks with his Gabonese
counterpart El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba on the eve of a
long-awaited "inclusive national dialogue" among CAR
political and military factions. The dialogue is scheduled
to begin December 5 in Bangui, with Bongo and
newly-designated mediator Pierre Buyoya presiding. Buyoya
is a former president of Burundi. Bongo, who has been
deeply involved in the CAR peace process since its
inception, acts as a kind of ultimate referee for disputes
arising under the June 2008 Libreville Agreement, which
paved the way for a ceasefire and political dialogue in
CAR's long-simmering crisis. Bongo also acts with the
loose authority of other central African heads of state, as
chair of an ad hoc committee on CAR established under the
Economic and Monetary Community of Central AFRICA (CEMAC).


2. (SBU) We have only a sketchy readout of the latest
Libreville meeting. The final communique, and Gabon's
official media, confirm that:

** Buyoya has been selected as mediator.
** Bongo will attend the opening ceremony of the inclusive
national dialogue in Bangui on Decembeer 8.
** Former CAR president Anges-Felix Patasse would be
arriving in Bangui on December 7.

We will provide other details as they become available.


3. (U) Following following is a rough English translation
of the communique. The original French text will also be
provided to AF/C.

(Begin Text)

Final Communique on the occasion of the friendly working
visit by H.E. Frangois Bozize Yangouvonda, President of the
Central African Republic

At the invitation of his Excellency El Hadj Omar BONGO
ONDIMBA, President of the Republic of Gabon, His Excellency
Francois BOZIZE YANGOUVONDA, President of the Central
African Republic, made a friendly working visit to the
Republic of Gabon on December 2, 2008.

The Gabonese Head of State was assisted by:

"QMr. Didjob Divungi DI NDINGE, Vice President of
the Republic;
"QMr. Nelson Noel MESSONE, Delegate Minister to the
Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation
and Regional Integration;
"QMr. Guy ROSSATANGA-RIGNAULT, Personal High
Representative of the President of the Republic.

The Central African Head of State was accompanied by:

"QMr. Cyriaque NGONDA, Minister of Communication
"QMr. Paul Raymond NDOUGOU, Minister for the
Interior,
"QMr. Stanislas MBANGOT Minister and Advisor at the
Presidency.


This visit of the President of the Central African Republic
came in the context of permanent consultations between His
Excellency Mr. Frangcois BOZIZE YANGOUVONDA and His
Excellency El Hadj Omar BONGO ONDIMBA, in his capacity as
President of the CEMAC Ad Hoc Committee on Central African
issues.

In the course of their meeting, the two Heads of State had
head-to-head consultations in the course of which they
carried out a broad exchange on the political situation in
the Central African Republic and other subjects of common
interest.

In this respect, H.E. Mr. Frangois BOZIZE YANGOUVONDA
informed the Gabonese Head of State of the political
evolution in the Central African Republic since the
signature, on June 21 2008 in Libreville, of the Global
Peace Accord between the Central African government and
Central African politico-military movements, as well as the
three meetings held in Libreville by the Follow-Up

LIBREVILLE 00000571 002 OF 002


Committee of this accord.

On the eve of the opening of the upcoming inclusive
Political Dialogue bringing together the ensemble of
Central African political actors, from the 5th to the 20th
of December 2008 in Bangui, His Excellency Mr. Frangois
BOZIZE YANGOUVONDA also brought to the attention of His
Excellency El Hadj Omar BONGO ONDIMBA that Mr. Pierre
BUYOYA had been chosen to lead these important meetings.
Concerning the opening of the Inclusive Political
Dialogue, the preliminary phases will begin on Friday
December 5, 2008, before the official opening on Monday
December 8, under the patronage of His Excellency El Hadj
Omar BONGO ONDIMBA, President of the Republic of Gabon,
Chairman of CEMAC Ad Hoc Committee on Central African
issues .

The President of the Central African Republic again thanked
the Gabonese Head of State for his unstinting efforts to
bring peace and dialogue to this brotherly country. The
Gabonese Head of State, for his part, congratulated his
Central African counterpart for this work, which begins in
a peaceful climate, an indispensable condition for the
development of the Central African Republic, and for the
stability of the sub-region.

He again reiterated his firm commitment to see the triumph
of the principles of peace and of dialogue in the entire
country and invited all the Central African actors to work
in good faith and without reservation for the success of
the process of emerging from crisis.

At the end of his visit, His Excellency Mr. Frangois BOZIZE
YANGOUVONDA, as well as the delegation that accompanied
him, thanked the Gabonese government and people for the
welcome that they received and they expressed their sincere
gratitude to His Excellency El Hadj Omar BONGO ONDIMBA,
President of the Republic, Head of State, for his constant
support for the peace process in the Central African
Republic.

(End Text)
REDDICK