BURKINA FASO WILL SUPPORT FIFTH ROND OF WESTERN SAHARA TALKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L OUAGADOUGOU 000774 SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/UNP JOSEPH FITZGERALD NEA/MAG FOR RANDALL KAAILAU E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC PBTS MO WI UV SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO WILL SUPPORT FIFTH ROND OF WESTERN SAHARA TALKS REF: SECSTATE 88765 Classified by ADCM Joann Lockard for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On August 20, PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Diuedonne Sougouri, Director of International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Sougouri said the GOBF recognizes the need for a peaceful resolution to the issues surrounding the Western Sahara and agreed with the U.S. position to push for a fifth round of talks. Sougouri noted that under the U.N Secretary Gereral's Special Envoy, Peter Van Walsum, a good deal of progress had been made, and he felt this was an improvement over the work of previous special envoys. ¶2. (C) Although he could not make any commitments, Sougouri was confident that his superiors would fully support the U.S. position to push for talks on Western Sahara and that the GOBF permanent mission in New York would receive these instructions soon. Sougouri said he would speak to MFA Chief of Staff, Vincent Zakane, before the day was over and that the MFA would contact the Embassy by phone or verbal note to convey an official GOBF response. JACKSON