VZCZCXRO5320
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHAB #1006/01 2711507
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 281507Z SEP 07 ZDS
FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3572
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0467
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0852

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ABIDJAN 001006 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y (PARAS 2 & 4 - NAME OF AMB) 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W-EPLUMB, LONDON FOR RBELL, PARIS FOR RKANEDA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2017 
TAGS: PGOV PREL IV UV
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE: COMPAORE'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE 
SHARES VIEWS ON OPA IMPLEMENTATION 
 
 
ABIDJAN 00001006  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES CYNTHIA AKUETTEH FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) A 
ND (D) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary.  Boureima Badini, Special Representative of 
Ouagadougou Political Accord (OPA) Facilitator Burkina Faso 
President Blaise Compaore, told Charge on September 27 that 
both President Gbagbo and Prime Minister Soro are committed 
to OPA implementation, but that there is a lack of trust 
between them.  He added that some in Gbagbo's camp do not 
support the OPA.  Badini believes OPA implementation and 
disarmament could be negatively affected if the investigation 
into the attack on Soro's plane indicates someone close to 
Gbagbo was behind it.  Badini said it is too soon to say if 
the "audiences foraines" (tribunals that will issue birth 
certificates to those who never received them or lost them) 
will be able to complete their work in the 3-month timeframe 
provided in the OPA.  Badini urged the international 
community to maintain pressure on OPA implementation and 
requested U.S. funding assistance to set up his office.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Charge d'Affaires accompanied by Pol Chief, met on 
September 27 with Emile Ilboudo, Ambassador of 
Burkina-Faso to Cote d'Ivoire, and Boureima Badini, Special 
Representative of the OPA Facilitator.  Badini, who arrived 
in Cote d'Ivoire on September 11 to take up his duties,  told 
Charge that his role is to monitor the events on the ground 
regarding OPA implementation and that he is optimistic. He 
said the Government of Cote d'Ivoire (GOCI) is assisting him 
in locating a residence and an office and that it is likely 
that his office will be located in the International Labor 
Office (Bureau International de Travail - BIT).  Badini said 
there is "synergy" between his office and the United Nations 
Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and explained that UNOCI 
will provide security for him. 
 
Commitment Exists, But Trust Lacking 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (C) Badini said both Gbagbo and Soro are committed to OPA 
implementation, but that there is a lack of trust between 
them. Badini said Soro's Forces Nouvelles are tired of the 
crisis and support the OPA, but some in the President's camp 
don't back the OPA and are trying to hinder its 
implementation. Responding to a question from Charge, Badini 
said  that Soro does not discuss the June 29 attack on his 
plane, but that Soro believes persons in the Presidential 
camp were behind it.  Badini noted that if the UN 
investigation into the attack indicates that it was carried 
out by persons close to the President, it will further erode 
trust between Soro and Gbagbo and will negatively impact on 
the disarmament process. 
 
Audiences Foraines 
------------------ 
 
¶4. (C) Badini said OPA implementation has reached a critical 
stage with the commencement of the "audiences foraines"  on 
September 25 and that, while it is positive that the process 
has begun, it must be transparent.  He noted that the OPA 
provides for the "audiences foraines" to run for 3 months and 
that the date to start the clock running needs to be chosen, 
either the September 25 symbolic commencement date  (see 
reftel) or a later date when the process has been expanded to 
more locations.  In response to the Charge's question whether 
the audiences foraines will be able to complete their work in 
3 months, Badini said the process will have to be evaluated 
at the halfway point. He also said a decision to extend the 
timeframe for the "audiences foraines" would have to be 
agreed to be by both parties to the OPA and would affect the 
date for elections which some would like to see held earlier 
than others.  Ambassador Ilboudo expressed concern that some 
political parties have stated that they will accuse the 
government of fraud if the "audiences foraines" issue more 
than 300,000 birth certificates, thereby setting the stage 
for further political turmoil.  Badini believes that the OPA 
would never have been achieved if all political parties had 
participated in the process.  He complained that the 
opposition political parties have already begun campaigning 
for the next election instead of supporting the country's 
emergence from its political crisis. 
 
 
Challenges and Role of International Community 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶5. (C) Badini told Charge that a major challenge is the 
determination of the technical advisor for the identification 
 
ABIDJAN 00001006  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
process.  He stated that redeployment of the administration 
to the north and west of the country is crucial in order to 
hold elections.  Badini expressed frustration with the 
unwillingness of bureaucrats to return until their offices 
and official residences have been rehabilitated, observing 
that in Burkina Faso tribunals have met "under trees." 
Badini said another fundamental issue is the ranks for Forces 
Nouvelles members who are integrated into the Armed Forces 
and that President Compaore is consulting with the parties on 
this issue.   Badini encouraged the international community 
to press the parties to fully implement the OPA, including 
choosing the technical advisor. Badini also requested U.S. 
financial assistance in setting up his office. 
 
¶6. (C) COMMENT: Badini, who was the former Minister of 
Justice in Burkina Faso, was especially forthcoming in the 
meeting and didn't hesitate to respond to questions/concerns. 
 In his comments, he reported that he meets weekly with 
various parties in order to maintain pressure on them to 
implement the OPA. He also commented that "the parties have 
confidence in and are even afraid of Compaore."  END COMMENT. 
 
 
 
 
AKUETTEH