MADAGASCAR: RAJOELINA'S MESSAGE TO MEDIATORS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANTANANARIVO 000633 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/E-MBEYZEROV E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV MA SUBJECT: MADAGASCAR: RAJOELINA'S MESSAGE TO MEDIATORS ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The leader of the Malagasy de facto transition regime, Andry Rajoelina, responded to the international mediation team late Sept 4. In his speech, he stated that he intended to hold on to his position as president of the transition regime, while also maintaining his current prime minister, Monja Roindefo, rather than ceding the latter post to any rival political faction. He ordered Roindefo to set up a new "inclusive" transition government, based on the agreement signed August 9 in Maputo, within 72 hours. The other three political movements quickly protested Rajoelina's retention of the contested top two posts and vowed not to participate in his new government (septel). IN his letter to mediators, Rajoelina disingenuously finds a pretext for doing what many observers expected all along from him: giving up very little power. On September 5, the representatives of the international contact group (ICG) in Madagascar met and issued a statement encouraging the parties to continue an inclusive dialogue to reach a consensual distribution of key posts, avoiding unilateral solutions. A translation of the text of Rajoelina's reply, followed by the text of the ICG statement, is provided in paras 2 and 3. END SUMMARY. 2: (U) Letter from Andry Rajoelina to Mediators -------------- Presidency of the High Authority of the Transition Antananarivo, September 4, 2009. His Excellency Joachim Chissano Maputo - Mozambique REF: 300/PHAT Excellency: It is my honor to inform you of the following: in compliance with the second summit meeting of the leading Malagasy political movements in Maputo, I wish to inform you of the following. Since the beginning of the popular movement, the Rajoelina movement constantly tried to find a way out of the crisis. We have always been present at the negotiating table from the Hintsy in February 2009, at the embassy of Senegal, at the Carlton, up to Maputo. The spirit of dialogue and the Nation's supreme interest have led us to make concessions. On the eve of the date agreed in Maputo for definitively settling the details on setting up the transition institutions, the three other movements made a joint statement suggesting a scenario in which the military would take power as a last resort, proposing that the latter hold the three key positions of the Transition, while knowing that such decision goes against the terms of the agreements signed during the first meeting in Maputo. The Armed Forces, as one body, have unanimously rejected this proposal which would cause destabilization and division among the military. Our solution has always been, and remains, opening and respect of the spirit of the Maputo charter, towards the birth of the 4th Republic. Therefore, the Rajoelina movement accepts that inclusive and consensual Transition institutions be established. After thinking deeply and taking into account the various consultations with all the stakeholders, specifically by involving public opinion, the goal of my decision in Maputo, the Rajoelina movement chooses to maintain in their current positions, respectively, Mr. Andry RAJOELINA as President of the Transition and Mr. Roindefo MONJA as Prime Minister. In doing so, we believe to be respecting public opinion so as to maintain peace and serenity in dealing with the State's affairs. We expect the government to be neutral and open to all political forces: individuals, members of political parties or not, anyone from associations or civil society moved by patriotism and having the required skills, for the sake of good governance. We made a call to the Nation to set up, within 72 hours, this national unity government. In addition, all the Transition institutions listed in the Maputo agreements shall be set up in the near future, in compliance with the consensus already achieved. I wish to reiterate my deepest gratitude to the International Community represented by the Members of the Joint Mediation Team, which spared no effort to find a way out of the political crisis in Madagascar. I rely on its assistance and support in setting up a sound and sustainable democratic system, in compliance with the Malagasy population's deep aspirations. Yours faithfully, H.E. the President of the High Authority of the Transition Andry Nirina RAJOELINA ANTANANARI 00000633 002 OF 002 ¶3. (U) STATEMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONTACT GROUP ON MADAGASCAR IN ANTANANARIVO -------------- Given the disturbing evolution of the political situation in Madagascar over the last two days and in the context of socioeconomic deterioration, the ICG in Antananarivo: Recalls the necessity for all Malagasy parties to find a peaceful, consensual, inclusive and neutral solution to the crisis that has been ongoing since the end of 2008; Considers that the Charter of the Transition and its related agreements signed in Maputo on 9 August remain the consensual framework for a peaceful resolution of the crisis; Calls on the Malagasy parties to continue the inclusive dialogue aimed at reaching a consensual distribution of key posts within the institutions of the Transition as defined in the Charter of the Transition; Reiterates that any unilateral solution cannot contribute to a peaceful and consensual resolution of the crisis; Reaffirms its commitment to accompany the Malagasy parties in the implementation of the Maputo Charter of the Transition and its related agreements, for the return to a new constitutional order, through free, fair, transparent and credible elections, in a period not to exceed 15 months. Antananarivo September 5, 2009 End of statement. MARQUARDT