VZCZCXRO4002
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHRY #0448/01 2321526
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 191526Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2832
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000448 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM ASEC GV
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ROUNDTABLE GENERATES HARD-HITTING 
DISCUSSION 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY.  The UNDP sponsored a three-day national 
roundtable in Conakry, which closes a series of roundtables 
held over the last few months in each of Guinea's 33 
prefectures and five communes.  While the dialogue itself may 
have been somewhat routine, the conference was unusual in 
terms of the overall tone and generally blunt discussion of 
Guinea's political and economic challenges.  The Special 
Representative of the President of ECOWAS demanded a plan of 
action and urged Guinea to look to its future instead of its 
past.  A union leader publicly declared the president 
medically unfit for office while the Minister of Defense 
humbly apologized for recent military violence.  While the 
conference declaration does not represent any new ideas, it 
does serve as a useful benchmark, if not roadmap, for the new 
prime minister.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (U) With funding provided by the UNDP Consolidation and 
Peace Fund, IFES organized a three-day conference aimed at 
promoting national dialogue.  The conference was held in 
Conakry and attended by an estimated 450 participants 
representing a wide range of Guinean actors including 
government, civil society, trade unions, the business 
community, and the international community.  The event served 
as the culmination of a series of national dialogue 
conferences organized by IFES throughout the country's 33 
prefectures and five communes of Conakry, beginning April 10. 
 (NOTE - IFES also receives significant funding from the USG 
for democracy promotion activities). 
 
¶3.  (U) Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane Souare did not attend 
the opening ceremony, but sent the Minister of Defense as his 
personal representative.  Several other members of the Souare 
government also participated in the discussions, including 
the ministers of national reconciliation, education, justice, 
decentralization, and health.  The new Secretary General of 
the President, Alpha Ibrahima Keira, attended the opening 
ceremony, but left before it was over.  For the USG, the 
Charge attended the opening ceremony, and a TCN (Third 
Country National) team leader in the USAID technical office 
for democracy and good governance observed various sessions 
throughout the duration of the conference. 
 
---------------------- 
LESS TALK, MORE ACTION 
---------------------- 
 
¶4.  (U) Within the international community and Guinean 
society itself, Guineans are generally seen as very good at 
talking about issues, but slow to act when it comes to 
addressing those issues.  Although the conference has not yet 
generated any concrete action plan, it does appear to be 
somewhat different from its predecessors in terms of the open 
manner of speech and often blunt criticism of Guinea's 
political situation. 
 
¶5.  (U) The Special Representative of the President of 
ECOWAS, Ambassador Edward Aina (Nigeria), delivered a 
particularly tough message.  In a statement directed at the 
president, Aina noted that Africa's archives are full of 
speeches, declarations, and resolutions, but that political 
will and action are lacking.  Commenting on the fact that he 
was eleven years old when Guinea gained its independence 
fifty years ago, he asked what Guinea has accomplished during 
that timeframe.  "What has become of the Guinea that was the 
vanguard of independence and pan-africanism?  What has been 
done with the natural and human resources that have been 
exploited?  What legacy has Guinea left for its current 
population, especially its youth?"  Aina stressed that 
ECOWAS, of which Guinea is a founding member, is waiting for 
a plan of action.  At one point, Aina said "a bird that 
continues to look at its shadow will never fly," alluding to 
Guinea's focus on its past glories and tragedies, rather than 
the demands of its future. 
 
--------------------------------- 
CONCERNS ABOUT PRESIDENT'S HEALTH 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (U) Mme Serah Rabiatou Diallo, Secretary General of the 
National Confederation of Guinean Workers (CNTG), was equally 
blunt in her published speech, which was endorsed by the 
Unions-Intersyndicale.  She stated that President Conte's 
illness, which dates back to 2002, prevents him from 
effectively and responsibly carrying out his presidential 
duties.  Further, Rabiatou emphasized that Guinea's legal 
code (Loi Fundamentale) explicitly requires that the 
president be of "irreproachable physical and moral" health. 
 
 
CONAKRY 00000448  002 OF 002 
 
 
------------------- 
MILITARY APOLOGIZES 
------------------- 
 
¶7.  (U) Representing the Minister of Defense, the Army Chief 
of Staff publicly acknowledged a host of problems facing the 
military including a lack of resources and a "deficit of 
patriotism and civic understanding."  He assured participants 
that although the military has been responsible for recent 
violence, military leaders are not sitting on their hands. 
He noted that the military as an institution is shocked, 
humiliated, and dishonored by these events.  "That is why, in 
total humility (I) present to ...President Conte and the 
Guinean people, our sincere excuses for the mistakes 
committed by (certain) elements." 
 
------------------ 
AUDIENCE REACTIONS 
------------------ 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Rabiatou's comments about the president's perceived 
incapacitation did not elicit any noticeable response from 
participants.  When the Minister of Defense mentioned 
President Conte during his opening speech speech, the 
audience was absolutely silent.  Both culture and protocol 
demand that listeners automatically applaud each time the 
president's name is mentioned.  They did not.  The lack of 
response was so noticeable that the Minister of Defense 
paused and said "I said his Excellency, President Lansana 
Conte."  At that point, the audience laughed and 
half-heartedly clapped their hands. 
 
-------------------- 
REHASHING OLD ISSUES 
-------------------- 
 
¶9.  (U) The conference resulted in a host of recommendations 
dealing with improved governance, the economy, education, 
health, security sector reform, and economic and political 
integration.  None of the issues are new.  Elections were not 
mentioned specifically, although there were recommendations 
to strengthen the National Independent Electoral Commission 
(CENI). 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶10.  (U) While Guineans are not new to talking about what 
needs to be done, the tone of this conference appeared 
different from those of the past.  Embassy TCN observed a 
palpable desire for change, and noted that despite the recent 
government reshuffling that has some people worried about a 
return to the old regime, people were honest and critical in 
their comments.  As always, the real test will be to see if 
any concrete action comes out of the discussion.  However, 
the conference declaration provides a useful benchmark, if 
not roadmap, for the new prime minister.  END COMMENT. 
 
BROKENSHIRE