BURKINA FASO: COMPAORE FACILITATES A THREE HOUR

C O N F I D E N T I A L OUAGADOUGOU 000021 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2020 TAGS: PREL PHUM PGOV GV UV SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: COMPAORE FACILITATES A THREE HOUR KONATE - DADIS MEETING. REF: OUAGADOUGOU 0018 Classified By: CDA Samuel C. Laeuchli for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Guinean Interim President Konate arrived in Ouagadougou late on January 13th and was quickly driven to the Presidential palace for a three hour long meeting with Compaore and Dadis. Nothing has filtered out of the yesterday's meeting yet, and no press points or communiqus have been issued or announced. All three are expected to meet again today to continue discussions. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) General Sekouba Konate arrived in Ouagadougou on January 13th around 19.30 onboard the Ivorian presidential plane. He was met on the tarmac by the Burkinabe Foreign Minister, the Minister of Defense, and Compaore's personal military advisor before being taken to the Presidential Palace. According to press reports, Konate's delegation first met briefly with Compaore before seeing Dadis. Observers noted that the interaction between the two Guinean leaders was warm and relaxed. Konate's delegation included Minister of Foreign Affairs Alain Cece Loua, Colonel Mamadou Korka Diallo, the Minister of Commerce and the Junta spokesperson Idrissa Cherif. A few Guinean journQsts also accompanied Konate. ¶3. (SBU) Compaore, the meeting facilitator, ushered Konate and Dadis into a closed-door meeting that is reported to have lasted three hours and to have included only the three of them. Neither Compaore, Konate nor Dadis made any comments after the meeting, but Junta spokesperson Idrissa Cherif said last night that the discussions were very sensitive and warranted prudence when talking about them. He also explained that there were numerous Camara supporters in Guinea:"If Dadis does not return, it will be necessary to explain why not." ¶4. (SBU) The local and international press is reporting t that while Dadis may want to return to Guinea as quickly as possible, Konate and Compaore are going to tell him that for the good of his country and in order to ensure civil and ethnic peace, he cannot. Commentators and journalists have suggested that the democratic process is now underway in Guinea, and Dadis' return would compromise it. Numerous articles mention US and France's clear concern about peace in the event that Dadis goes back to Conakry. Editorialists have suggested that Dadis should convalesce, for an extended period, in Burkina Faso. One suggested that "Dadis should remember that neither Kouchner (French Foreign Minister) nor Secretary Clinton believe that he is welcome back into his own country: "You would be best advised to stay in Ouagadougou." ¶5. (C) COMMENT: If press reports of the three hour evening meeting between Konate, Compaore and Dadis are accurate, it appears likely that Dadis is in better physical condition than many have previously thought. Post will continue to monitor the situation closely. END COMMENT. LAEUCHLI