VZCZCXRO8315
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #1139/01 2851427
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121427Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1751
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 001139 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON KDEM GV
SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER ADDRESSES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY - 
REPORTS ON GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY.  In his first official policy speech since 
his appointment in March, Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate 
outlined his government,s accomplishments over the last six 
months before the National Assembly on October 11.  Despite 
Kouyate,s 80 minutes discourse, deputies were reportedly 
disappointed with the speech,s overall lack of substance. 
Widely anticipated as Kouyate,s opportunity to present a 
defining, forward-looking strategy for the Guinean 
Government, the general perception was that Kouyate,s speech 
failed to deliver what people were hoping for.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
¶2.  (U) Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate spoke for 80 minutes 
before the Guinean National Assembly during which he detailed 
the consensus government,s accomplishments over the last six 
months.  Seen by many observers as representing Kouyate,s 
first official policy statement since he became head of 
government in March, there were 85 National Assembly deputies 
present (out of 107), which internet press reported as 
significantly higher than average.  At least six ministers 
attended as part of Kouyate,s delegation, including the 
ministers of health, public works, economic control, mines, 
education, and labor.  In addition to poloff, representatives 
from the UNDP, the EU, and Germany were present.  The speech 
attracted extensive press coverage including national radio 
and television, print media, and Radio France and BBC 
correspondents. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
KOUYATE FOCUSES ON GOVERNMENT ACHIEVEMENTS 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Kouyate,s speech was widely anticipated as an 
opportunity for him to define a forward-looking policy 
strategy.  Instead, Kouyate focused on outlining his 
government,s recent accomplishments while broadly defining 
key government objectives, which included providing for 
national unity, an independent judiciary, maximum employment 
for youth, the re-establishment of state authority, 
readjustment of macro-economic imbalances, promotion of 
political and social dialogue, and promotion of good 
governance. 
 
¶4.  (U) Linking accomplishments to the broader policy 
objectives listed above, Kouyate spent most of his time 
discussing his administrative restructuring efforts such as 
appointment of new ministers, governors and prefects; 
progress on infrastructure development such as a better power 
supply and road improvements; efforts to fight criminal 
activity and drug trafficking; recruitment of 12,000 new 
graduates to fill government jobs; progress towards a return 
to an IMF funded program; and his success in attracting more 
foreign aid.  Kouyate also highlighted his recent appointment 
of the commission to investigate alleged human rights abuses 
committed during the January/February strikes, saying 
&people believed me incapable of establishing this 
commission and now that it has been created, I will ensure 
that it works correctly.8 
 
¶5.  (U) Touching briefly on future initiatives for his 
government, Kouyate said that he plans to continue to fight 
corruption.  He specifically mentioned the embezzlement case 
against controversial millionaire Mamadou Syllah, stating 
that the case would be pursued.  Kouyate also commented on 
his continued priority for combating HIV infection and AIDs. 
He briefly mentioned upcoming legislative elections saying 
that the National Independent Electoral Commission has been 
named, but did not provide any further details. 
 
------------------ 
AUDIENCE REACTIONS 
------------------ 
 
¶6.  (SBU) While the audience was generally quiet, although 
perhaps not entirely attentive throughout the lengthy 
discourse, some of Kouyate,s statements were met with 
audible grumblings from the Assembly.  When Kouyate mentioned 
completion of a specific road project, the audience was 
noticeably agitated and contacts later told poloff that the 
road in question has not actually been finished.  Comments 
about government successes in achieving lower prices for rice 
and other commodities were also met with audible 
disagreement.  Kouyate took credit for providing tens of 
thousands of free mosquito nets to pregnant women and 
children in rural areas although reportedly, it was actually 
the Government of Japan that donated the nets to Guinea. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Audience interest visibly perked up when National 
Assembly deputies were given the opportunity to pose 
questions directly to the Prime Minister.  Over forty 
 
CONAKRY 00001139  002 OF 002 
 
 
questions were asked, which were noted by his delegation. 
Kouyate was initially supposed to orally respond to questions 
on October 12, but instead will submit written responses to 
the National Assembly at a later, unspecified date.  Among 
the questions asked were the following: 
     - Why has the Prime Minister not traveled to the 
       interior of the country in order to listen to popular 
concerns? 
     - What is the consensus government doing to rebuild 
property 
       destroyed in January and February? 
     - Why were the newly appointed prefects and governors 
       disproportionately represented from the prime 
minister,s own 
       ethnic group and from his hometown? 
     - Why are politicians manipulating and dividing youth 
       organizations? 
     - Could the government provide a balance sheet 
reflecting profits 
       and losses with respect to rice sales? 
     - Why is the government looking to spend a large sum of 
money on 
       the 50th anniversary celebration when the country 
lacks basic 
       infrastructure? 
     - Does the Prime Minister belong to the majority party 
or to any 
       of the existing opposition parties?  Does he intend to 
create 
       his own political party? 
     - What is the nature of Kouyate,s relationship with 
President 
       Conte? 
     - What are Kouyate's intentions with respect to Libya? 
 
¶8.  (U) According to local press reports, a number of 
deputies were dissatisfied with Kouyate,s speech.  One was 
quoted as saying that rather than speaking to the general 
political situation, Kouyate simply reported on his 
government,s activities.  Another deputy reportedly said 
that there were a number of inaccuracies: &some of the 
activities he cited were initiated by his predecessors.8 
Other deputies reportedly indicated that the Prime Minister 
exaggerated some of his accomplishments by taking credit for 
programs sponsored by the donor community.  A deputy 
representing the opposition told reporters that the speech 
left him hungry, referring to a lack of political substance. 
 
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COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Despite nearly 80 minutes of uninterrupted 
speaking, Kouyate,s speech seemed to lack the substance 
people were looking for.  The audience, both within the room, 
and the wider audience tuning in via radio and television, 
were reportedly anticipating a more forward-thinking 
strategic outline that would define government priorities and 
activities over the next few months.  Instead, they were 
presented with a lengthy overview of government 
accomplishments, the success of a number of which may be 
perceived as debatable. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Strong attendance on the part of National Assembly 
deputies suggests that they were recognizing Kouyate as a 
legitimate government leader.  At the same time, this is the 
audience least likely to support Kouyate given that most of 
them are part of the old regime, represented by the ruling 
Party for Unity and Progress.  They asked a number of hard 
hitting questions and it is likely that Kouyate,s responses 
will be eagerly anticipated.  END COMMENT. 
BROKENSHIRE