Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OUAGADOUGOU519
2008-06-13 19:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ouagadougou
Cable title:  

Burkina Faso: Meetings with President Compaore and

Tags:  PREL PHUM PINR UNSC ZI UV LY SF 
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DE RUEHOU #0519 1651934
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131934Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3810
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0656
RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 000519 

DEPT FOR IO/UNP ROBIN MEYER AND REBECCA GOLDENBERG
AF/W FOR TOM DOUGHERTY, EMILY PLUMB

SIPDIS

TAGS: PREL PHUM PINR UNSC ZI UV LY SF
SUBJECT: Burkina Faso: Meetings with President Compaore and
Discussion with MFA Cabinet Director on Security Council Meeting on
Zimbabwe

REF: A) STATE 63183 B) Ouagadougou 514

UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 000519

DEPT FOR IO/UNP ROBIN MEYER AND REBECCA GOLDENBERG
AF/W FOR TOM DOUGHERTY, EMILY PLUMB

SIPDIS

TAGS: PREL PHUM PINR UNSC ZI UV LY SF
SUBJECT: Burkina Faso: Meetings with President Compaore and
Discussion with MFA Cabinet Director on Security Council Meeting on
Zimbabwe

REF: A) STATE 63183 B) Ouagadougou 514


1. Ambassador met with President Blaise Compaore the evening of June

13. The President said that he had just discussed Zimbabwe with
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bassole (currently in Paris) and Burkina
Faso's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Michael
Kafando. The PermRep is awaiting a briefing on the humanitarian
situation and will then officially commit to a "yes" vote for a
Security Council meeting on Zimbabwe. President Compaore assured the
Ambassador that Burkina Faso is committed to supporting the meeting.
Compaore was extremely critical of President Mugabe, saying that he
is creating a "mess" of his country and that the international
community must pressure him to ensure stability in the region. He
expressed his thanks to the United States for helping Africans try to
solve the Zimbabwe problem. He mentioned that ECOWAS is planning to
send observers for the elections.


2. Ambassador discussed the Secretary of State's invitation to FM
Bassole to co-chair a roundtable discussion on Zimbabwe on June 19.
Compaore fully supports the discussion as a lead up to the formal
UNSC meeting on the subject.


3. In a separate discussion on July 13, DCM was assured by the
Foreign Ministry's Cabinet Director Vincent Zakane that Burkina Faso
would vote affirmatively in favor of a UNSC meeting on Zimbabwe. He
reiterated his view that it would be "highly desirable" that the UNSC
work closely with the African Union. He stated that both
institutions should tell the Zimbabwe Government that: the
international community was closely following preparations for the
Presidential election run-off, pre-election violence should be ended,
harassment of the diplomatic corps stopped and civil society be
allowed to participate fully in a democratic electoral process.

JACKSON