ATT'S ANNIVERSARY PRESS CONFERENCE: "NO KIDDING,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAMAKO 000402

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PTER PINR KDEM ML
SUBJECT: ATT'S ANNIVERSARY PRESS CONFERENCE: "NO KIDDING,
NO THIRD TERM"

REF: BAMAKO 00387

1.(SBU) Summary: In what has become an annual tradition,
Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure held a press conference
on June 8, 2009, the 7th anniversary of his first
inauguration as President of Mali. President Toure called
for greater regional cooperation in countering Al Qaeda in
the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM),and highlighted domestic issues
including projects under his Program for Economic and Social
Development and his support for the Office of the Auditor
General. Toure also took the opportunity of the press
conference to state unambiguously that not only will he not
be a candidate for president in 2012, but that he was in fact
anxious for his current term to end so that he can return to
a simpler life. End Summary.

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On Hostages
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3.(SBU) While praising the apparent end of the Tuareg
rebellion earlier this year, President Toure acknowledged
that northern Mali remains besieged by a wide variety of
lawless forces, from bandits trafficking in drugs, cigarettes
and people, to the Salafist terrorist group Al Qaeda in the
Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Toure touted Mali's contributions to
the struggle against terrorism, citing arrests of numerous
Salafists by Malian authorities. At the same time, Toure
reiterated that AQIM is a regional problem, not just a Malian
problem, and called once again for Mali's neighbors in the
Sahel to join him in Bamako for a summit on security in the
region.

4.(SBU) President Toure expressed regret that he was unable
to secure the release of Edwin Dyer, the British hostage
executed by AQIM at the end of May, and said he would work
tirelessly to secure the release of the remaining hostage, a
Swiss citizen held since January 22. At the same time, Toure
ruled out the possibility of any military action to secure
the Swiss citizen's release, stating simply that no one knew
where the hostage was being held. Moreover, Toure condemned
the practice of paying ransoms to secure the release of
hostages, noting that to do so would only encourage AQIM to
continue its newly profitable activity. Toure implied that
Mali's partner countries had not paid ransoms, and specified
that Mali had not contributed "one cent" to a ransom for the
release of any hostages.

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Challenges and Accomplishments
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5.(SBU) President Toure acknowledged that the past year had
witnessed dramatic increases in the price of basic consumer
goods, and highlighted government steps to eliminate duties
on food and gasoline and raise civil service salaries.
Turning to developments under his Program for Economic and
Social Development (PDES),he proudly listed work on Bamako's
third bridge, the new freight terminal at Bamako's airport,
the extension of the airport in Kayes, the Millenium
Challenge Corporation's irrigation project in Alatona, new
hospitals in Mopti, Sikasso, and Bamako, and the construction
of a five-star hotel. He touted Mali's progress during his
presidency in reducing its internal and external debt,
although some critics noted that most of this reduction came
in the form of debt forgiveness, rather than fiscal
discipline on the government's part. He expressed his
support for the beleagured Auditor General, Sidi Sosso
Diarra, despite an external audit recommending the
elimination of that office.


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No Third Term
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10.(SBU) With opposition media having flooded their pages
with speculative and sometimes accusatory articles asserting
that President Toure is preparing to try to remain for a
third presidential term after 2012, the President used June 8
as an opportunity to refute the speculation unambiguously.
In answer to a direct question, President Toure stated
clearly that he would not/not be a candidate. Specifically,
he said, "The Constitution of Mali is very clear. It will be
respected." Toure then added that he is, in fact, impatient
for his current term to end, because he is eager to return to
a simpler life, including praying at the mosque in his home
town of Mopti, and enjoying time with his granchildren. In a
possible allusion to Niger's Mamadou Tandja or Algeria's
Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Toure underscored, "we do not want our
assessment (of the constitutional limits on seeking a third

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term) to embarrass certain countries who are themselves
facing particular situations. We are not trying to go to the
head of the class." Then, adding a humorous note to his
answer, Toure noted that the Presidency was a difficult job,
and "you (Malians) are difficult to lead." Toure expressed
wonderment that the question of a third term continued to
arise, and asked rhetorically why no one believes him when he
says he is not interested in a third term.

11.(SBU) President Toure's promise not to seek a third term
made the front page of nearly every Bamako newspaper on
Tuesday, June 9. Reaction has generally been positive,
although some articles - and readers commenting online - have
noted that President Toure waited until literally the last
moment to announce his candidacy in 2002 and his bid for
re-election in 2007. The failed to note, however, that in
both cases there was no constitutional impediment to his
candidacy.

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Comment: Drawing a line in the sand
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12.(SBU) There is no reason not to take President Toure at
his word. It would have been very simple for Toure to meekly
suggest that those who have suggested a third term do not
speak for him. Instead, the President went out of his way to
speak unequivocally on the subject, and to state clearly that
he will not be on the ballot in 2012. It may be that Toure
is attempting to draw a line in the sand; that if he presents
the question of Mali's democratic legal framework as clear,
and a third term as unthinkable and impossible, he will
succeed in pushing all Malians to see it the same way.
MILOVANOVIC