LIBERIA: GUINEAN JUNTA DELEGATION CALLS ON PRESIDENT

UNCLAS MONROVIA 001072 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM GV LI SUBJECT: LIBERIA: GUINEAN JUNTA DELEGATION CALLS ON PRESIDENT SIRLEAF ¶1. (U) A Guinean delegation headed by National Council for Democracy and Development (CNDD) vice president Brigadier General Mamadou Camara called on President Sirleaf in Monrovia December 30 in her capacity as chair of the Mano River Union. President Sirleaf used the occasion to press the junta to shorten the transition period and civilianize the CNDD, to include more participation of women. ¶2. (SBU) President Sirleaf had called Ambassador in advance of the meeting, noting that they were also going to Sierra Leone as well as other countries. She did not know what the message would be but thought that she would be asked to support the new Guinean regime. She noted that she had also received a call from Senegal President Wade asking her to be supportive of it. She said that she intended to stand by the ECOWAS position calling for early elections. She expressed satisfaction that the regime had appointed a civilian Prime Minister noting she did not know him. ¶3. (SBU) After the meeting, Minister of State Eddie McClain told Ambassador that President Sirleaf and Camara first held a one-on-one meeting before joining a larger meeting with the full delegation and the Liberian Minister of Defense, National Security Advisor, and the National Security Agency head. In the expanded meeting, Camara stated that the military had taken over because the legislature was illegally constituted and to avoid a vacuum. He assured the President that the junta's tenure would be short as they prepare for elections but did not provide a timeframe. ¶4. (SBU) The delegation agreed to President Sirleaf's request to expand civilian participation in the CNDD, including women. The Guineans pushed back, however, on her request that the transition period be shortened, as 2010 was the end of Kante's term as president, and the CNDD needed time to organize municipal and legislative elections, which are to be held prior to presidential elections. The CNDD needed time to weed out corruption in the military as well. They would, however, look for ways to shorten the time period. President Sirleaf warned the delegation that junta will continue to be ostracized by the International Community. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: The local press was fully briefed on the meeting, and Minister McClain's readout only confirmed and expanded on what has been reported publicly. He was unable to provide a readout on the one-on-one meeting, and promised the President would call the Ambassador soon. That that time, the Ambassador will reiterate the USG position on the coup. McClain thought it significant that the CNDD delegation avoided Burkina Faso, and more importantly, Cote d'Ivoire, in their tour of the region. We note that apparently, according to press reports, the President commended the delegation for the choice of Prime Minister Kabinet Komara, as well as the fact that no violence had occurred. That the delegation readily agreed to enlarge the CNDD to include more women, it appears that a decision has already been made. THOMAS-GREENFIELD