G-8 COMS DISCUSS CRISIS IN GUINEA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000683 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON EFIN GV SUBJECT: G-8 COMS DISCUSS CRISIS IN GUINEA REF: A. CONAKRY 0669 ¶B. CONAKRY 0673 ¶1. (U) Charge hosted an October 22 meeting at the CMR of representatives of G8 Member States along with African Union, World Bank and IMF representatives. Key points discussed included: --The recent UN visit by Haile Menkerios --Lack of a cohesive response by the AU towards GoG --Security in Guinea --Registration of foreigners in Conakry --Recent assassination in Guinea --Whereabouts of CNDD two vice presidents --Sanctions and need for cohesion --Lack of salary payments of government officials and possible union response. -------------- UN MISSION TO CONAKRY -------------- ¶2. (U) UN Assistant Secretary General Haile Menkerios departed Guinea October 19 with a tentative plan to initiate an international investigation into the events of September 28. While other members of the Security Council endorsed this initiative, Russia did not. At the G-8 gathering, the Russian Ambassador clarified his country's position, stating that his government is "not against" an inquiry, but does not agree that the UN was within its rights to take this action. He described his government's position as being driven by legalistic considerations, and not by pointed threats by the GoG to shut down Russia's extensive mining interests in Guinea. -------------- THE AFRICAN UNION AND KHADAFI -------------- ¶3. (U) The AU representative stressed that the recent comments made by Mohmar Khadafi do not represent the AU position. He noted that there is still no official response from the AU towards Dadis' refusal to state in writing that he would not present himself as a candidate in upcoming election. He assured the group that measures against Dadis will be considered and announced, but he did not state when. ¶4. (U) The French DCM defended her Embassy's call for all French citizens to depart, stating that that the security situation remains tense, and splinters within the military may spread into violence. -------------- REGISTRATION OF FOREIGNERS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Spanish Ambassador stated his staunch objection to a note his Embassy received from the Ministry of Security requesting that his Embassy present the names, addresses and contact information for all Spanish citizens living in Conakry. He stated that he received information that the owners of apartment complexes are being asked to register foreign tenants for government records. Other Missions, including the US Embassy, had received this same request, and all had refused to respond. COMs agreed that any sharing of information about staff and private foreign citizens was potentially dangerous. One COM said the Prime Minister was not aware of this issue. Note: Post is closely monitoring this GoG initiative. End Note -------------- NOTE AT THE CRIME SCENE -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Concerning the recent assassination of Amadou Sadio Diallo (reftel A),the Guinean National Deputy Director of Youth, the US Charge said there are reports of a note having been left at the scene, naming future victims. Several COMs thought that such a note may have been left by government security forces as an excuse for further crackdowns. The European Union (EU) representative stressed the importance that Youth Director Diallo had in shaping future CNDD recruits. -------------- TOTO NOT IN KANSAS -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The First Vice-President of the CNDD and Minister of Security, Mamadou Toto Camara, is reported to be in Washington, DC, with the date of his return to Guinea an open question. The Second Vice-President of the CNDD and Minister of Defense, Sekouba Konat, reportedly visited a hospital in Morocco. He also reportedly traveled to the Ukraine seeking arms deals for the CNDD. Note: In a separate conversation, the Ukrainian Ambassador told Charge that the CONAKRY 00000683 002 OF 002 Ukrainian government had refused to meet with Konate and his delegation; they departed empty-handed. Konate returned to Conakry this past weekend and is currently at camp Alpha Yaya. End note. -------------- MOVING ON VISA SANCTIONS -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The EU sent a communique to the AU listing names for possible visa sanctions. The original list drafted by the EU of 111 individuals to receive visa sanctions has decreased to 44. The importance of cohesion among all international actors regarding sanctions was agreed upon. Charge said the US is making preparations for visa sanctions, but the names of individuals would not be made public. -------------- GOG AND SALARIES -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The Country Director of the World Bank said that the government of Guinea is at risk of running out of money to pay government salaries. He believed such a lapse in payment could prompt government worker unions call a strike. (reftel B) BROKENSHIRE