BURKINA FASO: IVOIRIAN PRESIDENT MAKES HISTORIC VISIT AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OUAGADOUGOU 000734

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECIN IV UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: IVOIRIAN PRESIDENT MAKES HISTORIC VISIT AND
SIGNS COOPERATION AGREEMENT


1. (U) Summary: On July 27-29, President Laurent Gbagbo of Cote
d'Ivoire visited Ouagadougou for his first official visit to Burkina
Faso since he took power in 2002. The trip was intended to
normalize relations between the two countries and was crowned with
the signing of a formal friendship and cooperation agreement. Both
leaders expressed their desire to build a framework for strong
cooperation, work to strengthen regional institutions, and improve
the economic situation of West Africa. While Compaore and Gbagbo
appeared to put their tense past behind them in public, some
Burkinabe regarded the visit with skepticism and are taking a "wait
and see" approach with the Ivorian leader. End Summary.

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President Laurent Gbagbo's Historic Visit to Burkina
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2. (U) Following years of tense relations between the two
countries, this was the first official visit between the leaders to
occur since 2002. In the past, President Gbagbo repeatedly accused
his Burkinabe counterpart of destabilizing Cote d'Ivoire with his
alleged support to Ivoirian rebels. Meanwhile, President Compaore
blamed his Ivoirian counterpart for human rights abuses against
Burkinabe residents of Cote d'Ivoire and even called for Gbagbo to
be brought before an international criminal tribunal.


3. (U) Despite this troubled past, President Gbagbo was received by
his Burkinabe hosts with all the respect due to his rank; he was met
at Ouagadougou airport by President Compaore, Prime Minister Tertius
Zongo, cabinet members, diplomats, a twenty-one gun salute, and a
festive crowd of Burkinabe and Ivorian citizens. During the visit,
President Gbagbo participated in a State dinner, addressed the
Burkinabe National Assembly on the subject of renewed peace and
bilateral cooperation, and received the Great Cross of Burkina Faso,
the "Grand Croix de l'Ordre National Burkinabe." At the end of the
visit, President Compaore accepted an invitation to visit Cote
d'Ivoire at a future date.

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President Gbagbo Addresses the National Assembly:
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4. (U) On July 28, President Gbagbo addressed the Burkinabe
National Assembly. He told parliamentarians, "I came here to
announce that the storm is over and war is at an end in Cote
d'Ivoire." He raised the urgent need to strengthen the links
between Burkinabe and Ivoirian communities and pleaded for
solidarity. Gbagbo noted that the former Upper Volta and Cote
d'Ivoire once formed a single nation, and that relations between his
country and Burkina should serve as a "backbone for West African
integration." He cautioned that, as the economic powerhouse of the
West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA),any threat to Cote
d'Ivoire's peace would adversely affect other member countries.
President Gbagbo advocated for a stronger shared currency to permit
member countries to meet the many challenges they face. (NOTE: The
CFA is the common currency of the eight UEMOA countries in West
Africa.) He condemned the scourges of brain drain and human
trafficking in West Africa and advocated for better higher education
opportunities for future leaders. Gbagbo also highlighted other
regional challenges including: HIV/AIDS, meningitis, environmental
and energy problems, and the food crisis.

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Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation:
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5. (U) On July 29, Presidents Compaore and Gbagbo signed an
agreement to improve friendship, enhance cooperation, and further
economic development between Burkina and Cote d'Ivoire. Both
commended the strong ties between their two communities and agreed
to establish a consultative framework to ensure a dynamic
partnership for peace, stability, and prosperity for both nations.
They agreed that disputes concerning the interpretation of this
agreement would be addressed through diplomatic channels.


6. (U) The consultative framework includes coordination in the
areas of:
-- foreign policy;
-- defense and security;
-- training, employment, and social reintegration of the youth;
-- free movement of people and goods;
-- culture;
-- road and railway infrastructures;
-- agriculture and cattle farming;
-- energy;
-- aerial transportation; and
-- communication.


7. (U) Both parties also agreed to:
-- establish a common fund for youth training, employment, and
social reintegration;

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-- take urgent steps to improve postal services and address payment
problems related to money orders from their respective countries;
and
-- inform other UEMOA and ECOWAS member countries of the progress of
cooperation between Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire.


8. (U) Finally, President Blaise Compaore expressed his
satisfaction with the implementation of the Ivoirian peace accords
and reaffirmed his support for the Ivoirian Government and people in
their peace and security efforts. Compaore urged the players in the
Ivoirian crisis and the international community to make every effort
to support the November 30 presidential elections in Cote d'Ivoire.


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Burkinabe Appreciate Visit, but are Cautious
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9. (U) Most Burkinabe applauded President Gbagbo's visit to Burkina
Faso and believed it would facilitate the normalization of relations
between the two countries. Some even went so far as to publicly
call President Gbagbo "a man of peace and truth." The government
controlled-newspaper, "Sidwaya" commemorated the visit with a full
page photo insert of the two leaders shaking hands. The journal
commented that the visit sent a signal that things are moving in the
right direction between Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso and called on
Burkinabe citizens to take pride in the visit.


10. (U) Despite the positive official reception, some privately
owned newspapers reported more skeptically on President Gbagbo's
ambitions for Burkina and the sub-region. The daily newspaper, "Le
Pays," called for caution and opined that President Gbagbo and his
entourage are used to doing the opposite of what they had promised
to do the day before. "Le Pays" called on Burkinabe to care about
actions, not words. The paper also speculated that Anglophone
countries like Nigeria are jealous of Cote d'Ivoire as an economic
powerhouse and may work to undermine good relations between Burkina
and Cote d'Ivoire.


11. (U) "L'Observateur," another privately owned paper, commended
Gbagbo's ambition for both UEMOA and ECOWAS members, primarily for
the landlocked countries of Burkina, Mali, and Niger. (NOTE:
President Gbagbo has stated that he plans to contribute to the
economic development of his land-locked neighbors by ensuring
electrical interconnection and constructing a gasoline pipeline.
END NOTE.) However, "L'Observateur" noted that loyalty is key to
such cooperation and, like "Le Pays", it advised caution with its
headline: "See Before You Believe."


12. (SBU) Comment: The "ping-pong" of accusations and criticisms
between the two presidents seems to be far behind them now. Both
Compaore and Gbagbo appear to want peace, security, and economic
development. However, despite this demonstration of Gbagbo's
willingness to cooperate, political observers advise caution and
recommend Burkina adopt a "wait and see" approach. In the past,
Gbagbo has been criticized for failing to keep his promises.
Whatever individual intentions may be in the region (whether from
Gbagbo or other leaders),this visit has been another example of
President Compaore's continued efforts to contribute to overall
regional stability and cooperation, not hinder it.

LOCKARD