Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MONROVIA1072
2008-12-31 13:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Monrovia
Cable title:  

LIBERIA: GUINEAN JUNTA DELEGATION CALLS ON PRESIDENT

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM GV LI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7925
OO RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #1072 3661341
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 311341Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0652
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
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

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