FORCES VIVES WORK TOWARD TRANSITION, REFUSE TO LET UP ON

UNCLAS CONAKRY 000680 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PGOV PREL PHUM ASEC GV SUBJECT: FORCES VIVES WORK TOWARD TRANSITION, REFUSE TO LET UP ON CNDD ¶1. (SBU) Leaders of the Forces Vives met October 22 at Jean Marie Dore's (UPG) residence to discuss recent developments related to Guinea's troubled transition. Participants were satisfied with the strong positions adopted by the African Union and ECOWAS, especially since both organizations had included demands that the CNDD relinquish power in favor of a national unity government controlled by civilians. ¶2. (SBU) A former prime minister turned political party leader, Lansana Kouyate, attended the meeting as well, despite the fact that he has been perceived recently as having been at cross purposes with the Forces Vives. Since taking office in 2007, Kouyate has cultivated a relationship with Libyan leader Qadaffi. He just came back from a visit to Libya and contacts have suggested that he is acting as Qadaffi's personal intermediary with the CNDD. During the Forces Vives meeting, Kouyate reaffirmed his solidarity with the Forces Vives and denied rumors that he is lobbying the CNDD and Qadaffi to become the prime minister of a national unity government. ¶3. (SBU) During the meeting, Michel Kamano, President of Guinea's Economic and Social Council (a government institution) pleaded on behalf of CNDD President Moussa Dadis Camara that the Forces Vives resume dialogue with the CNDD. Kamano condemned the massacre and reaffirmed that justice must be served, but asked that members of the Forces Vives accept to resume talks with the CNDD in order to maintain peace and stability in the country. Jean-Marie Dore reportedly told Kamano that Guinean institutions are no longer capable of resolving Guinea's crisis without outside assistance. He added that the international community is helping to find a solution and is working through Burkinabe President Blaise Compaore as mediator. ¶4. (SBU) Members of the Forces Vives are planning to meet with Libya's Ambassador to Guinea on October 23. Compaore has invited Forces Vives leaders to Ouagadougou for a meeting on or around November 2. ¶5. (SBU) Meanwhile, Guinea's labor unions continue to discuss the possibility of calling for an indefinite, nationwide labor strike. According to contacts, such a strike may be called toward the end of October. BROKENSHIRE