VZCZCXRO3315
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0480/01 1221406
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021406Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1025
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000480 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12598:  N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC PINS GV LI SL IV
SUBJECT: Mano River Union Summit Unites Presidents But Produces No 
Formal Agreements 
 
REF: 06 Conakry 1711 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary.  From April 27-30, Guinea hosted the Summit of 
Chiefs of State and Governments of the Mano River Union (MRU).  The 
primary stated goals of the meeting were to consolidate peace, 
security, and stability in the MRU; resolve border issues; and 
revitalize the Secretariat of the MRU -- themes similar to the MRU 
conference in Conakry in November (reftel).  President Lansana Conte 
received Presidents Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, Ahmad Tejan 
Kabbah of Sierra Leone, and Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d'Ivoire.  Each 
country was also represented by high-level delegations of ministers, 
government officials, and civil society representatives.  While 
there was discussion of the longstanding Yenga border issue, with 
ministerial representatives reporting that Guinea had agreed to 
withdraw its military forces, the governments did not release a 
final communique confirming this.  Instead, prior to her departure, 
President Johnson-Sirleaf announced that each country will continue 
to work on the recommendations submitted during the summit to ensure 
strengthened relations among MRU members.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
High-Level Delegations Express Common Concerns 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶2.  (SBU) On April 27-30, the Summit of Heads of State and 
Governments of the Mano River Union convened in Conakry.  It is the 
second high-level meeting of MRU countries in Guinea in less than 
six months (reftel).  President Kabbah of Sierra Leone arrived in 
Guinea on April 29, and President Sirleaf of Liberia arrived the 
morning of April 30.  Although Cote d'Ivoire is not officially a 
member of the MRU, its delegation, led by President Gbagbo, was 
warmly welcomed by the MRU countries (Guinea, Sierra Leone, and 
Liberia), and its representatives actively participated in all 
aspects of the meeting. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) During the first two days, ministers from the four 
participating countries convened the Seventeenth Ordinary Session of 
the Council of Ministers of the Mano River Union.  They were joined 
by civil society representatives from each of the three MRU 
countries.  The Council of Ministers was designated to prepare 
specific recommendations on ways to strengthen peace and security, 
resolve border issues, and promote socio-economic integration 
through the revitalization of the MRU Secretariat. 
 
------------------------------------ 
Conte Presides Over Opening Ceremony 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶4.  (SBU) President Conte presided over the April 30 formal opening 
ceremony.  Two hours after its scheduled starting time of 0930, 
Conte walked unassisted to the head table.  Guinea's president sat 
attentively while Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate delivered remarks 
in Conte's name.  Kouyate opened the speech by stating that this is 
a real moment of satisfaction for the people of Guinea, "being 
honored by the presence of these leaders just two months after the 
pain that our country has endured." 
 
¶5.  (SBU) For Conte, the Prime Minister thanked the nations of the 
MRU for their support and friendship, proof that "together we can 
transcend any problem."  He extended a personal thanks to President 
Gbagbo for his concern with the MRU stating, "We can only safeguard 
the peace and security of the region if we do so with our friends in 
Cote d'Ivoire."  Conte's message concluded with an additional note 
of appreciation for the Secretary General of the MRU and the 
international community that "has stood by Guinea and committed 
support for the integration of our nations."  While the Prime 
Minister's own prepared remarks were made available (and sent to the 
Department via email), he did not present them. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) President Johnson-Sirleaf made the second (and final) 
opening presentation.  She began by thanking Conte for the welcome 
reception and reiterating thanks to Gbagbo and extending an 
invitation for his team to participate in all deliberations. 
Sirleaf remarked, "The Mano River Union exists for the sole purpose 
of bringing together our people -- the same people, history, 
culture, traditions, and environment."  She emphasized that none of 
the countries present could achieve its development objectives until 
all citizens are working together toward the same goals.  Sirleaf 
invited all present "to dedicate themselves to move forward in peace 
and toward common development practices for the common good of our 
people."  She endorsed the MRU Secretariat, confirming that the 
heads of state would adopt a working program to reactivate this 
institution.  Sirleaf acknowledged the recommendations from the 
Council of Ministers and said that the heads of state would meet 
behind closed doors and take firm decisions on them. 
 
--------------------------- 
No Final Document Presented 
--------------------------- 
 
 
CONAKRY 00000480  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶7.  (SBU) After Johnson-Sirleaf's presentation, the meeting was 
adjourned with the announcement that the summit would reconvene for 
the closing ceremony and the reading of the formal communique.  The 
visiting heads of state were accompanied by high-level delegations 
from Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Cote d'Ivoire.  Also in attendance 
were the majority of ministers from Guinea's new cabinet, 
representatives of the top military brass, President of the National 
Assembly Aboubacar Sompare, and civil society leaders, including 
several representatives from the Mano River Women for Peace Network. 
 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Approximately one hour after the opening remarks, protocol 
officers announced that there would be no formal closing ceremony. 
They told those gathered that the communique would be read on the 
evening news.  To date, no formal statement has been released. 
Prior to her departure from Guinea on April 30, President 
Johnson-Sirleaf stated that the heads of state would return to their 
respective capitals and continue working together. 
--------------------------------------------- 
Hopeful Discussion, But No Agreement on Yenga 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Prior to the opening ceremony, an advisor at the Ministry 
of the Interior and Security told Poloff that, on April 29, Guinean 
and Sierra Leonean government and civil society representatives 
agreed on Guinea's withdrawal of its military troops from Lilema, a 
town near the Yenga border.  This advisor said there was never a 
question that Yenga was a Sierra Leonean village.  Guinea had just 
maintained its presence in order to protect the security of the 
region during the civil war, he maintained.  The advisor confirmed 
his satisfaction that the Yenga issue "would be resolved and we can 
finally put it behind us."  Others at the ceremony, including from 
the Mano River Women for Peace Network, told us that all interested 
parties had reached an agreement on Yenga.  However, none of the 
heads of state made any public remarks specifically mentioning the 
Yenga border issue prior to the conclusion of the summit. 
 
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Comment 
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¶10.  (SBU) The Mano River Union Summit had high symbolic value, but 
there was little substance shared publicly.  Most of the documents 
that were made available came from the Council of Ministers.  (Note: 
These documents are being sent via email to the Department.)  We are 
left to conclude that, in the absence of a formal statement, the 
chiefs of state did not reach a final agreement about concrete 
measures to consolidate peace, security, and stability in the MRU; 
resolve border issues; and revitalize the Secretariat of the MRU. 
Although he did not say a word (but managed to smoke two cigarettes 
and eat a kola nut during the 10-minute opening presentation), 
Lansana Conte appeared in reasonably good health.  Conte's presence 
alone was significant as he has not participated in any MRU 
activities in years.  Yet it was also clear that Guinea and its 
neighbors still have a long way to go before they develop concrete 
measures to begin setting and achieving common development goals. 
Perhaps a new, reinvigorated MRU Secretariat will provide a vehicle 
to facilitate this arduous process. 
 
MCDONALD