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FM AMEMBASSY ANTANANARIVO
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INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANTANANARIVO 000691 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF -- MBEYZEROV AND PCARTER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MA
SUBJECT: MADAGASCAR: SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS FOR OCTOBER 6 
ICG 
 
REF: ADDIS ABABA 1745 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: The third consultative meeting of the 
international contact group (ICG) on Madagascar will be 
hosted by the African Union in Antananarivo October 6.  This 
meeting presents an opportunity to shore up cohesiveness 
within the international community and endorse mediator 
Chissano's leadership and the agreements reached in Maputo. 
Paragraph three contains suggested talking points for use at 
the meeting, and paragraph four provides reference background 
on relevant events since the second ICG consultative meeting 
July 22.  We welcome the participation of AF Senior Advisor 
Ambassador Phil Carter as head of our delegation. End summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) The third consultative meeting of the international 
contact group (ICG) on the situation in Madagascar will be 
hosted by the African Union in Antananarivo October 6.  ICG 
members (EU, Indian Ocean Commission, OIF, SADC, UN, Security 
Council Perm 5 and 3 African non-permanent members) will 
discuss efforts to return to constitutional order in 
Madagascar since the second consultative meeting of July 22 
(reftel).  Following a recap of events by the mediators, 
representatives of the four political movements will speak 
and respond to questions, followed by a discussion among ICG 
members of the way forward, concluding with drafting a 
communique.  Several ICG members may send senior 
representatives from their capitals to attend the meeting. 
In addition to Ping and Lamamra of the AU, France, which is 
highly engaged on the ground here (and in Paris) with the 
HAT, reportedly may send Cooperation Minister Alain Joyandet. 
 However, the latest information from Paris suggests his 
participation may be uncertain and that the French may be 
represented by their local Ambassador. 
 
¶3. (SBU) At the ICG, lead mediator former Mozambican 
President Chissano, appointed by SADC, will likely be looking 
for a renewed confirmation of his mandate to lead the 
mediation process, which the AU continuously points out is 
"under the auspices of the AU", and an endorsement by the 
international community of the agreements reached in August 
in Maputo.  Without renewed, united pressure from the 
international community, the de facto regime is unlikely to 
respect promises to compromise and create a truly consensual 
transition regime.  Thus, this ICG meeting presents an 
opportunity to shore up solidarity within the international 
community to ensure that all members are sending the same 
signals to the Malagasy transition authority (HAT) and other 
political actors, support the negotiation efforts led by 
Chissano, and urge respect for the agreements reached in 
Maputo.  During the ICG meeting, U.S. officials should 
encourage all members to pressure the HAT to engage in 
negotiations rather then moving unilaterally towards 
elections.  Following are suggested talking points for use by 
U.S. officials during the ICG meeting: 
 
-- The U.S. thanks the AU for convening this meeting.  We 
continue to support the AU, SADC, UN, and the OIF in their 
efforts to promote the restoration of constitutional order 
and the rule of law in Madagascar.  We applaud the tireless 
efforts of the mediation team to move this process forward, 
including the successful negotiations undertaken in Maputo in 
August to define a transition charter. 
 
-- We reiterate the views expressed in our public statement 
on September 4 that called on the Malagasy parties to respect 
and reaffirm their commitment to the Maputo process and 
accords, notably through the rapid implementation of a 
consensual transition government. 
 
-- We remain concerned about ongoing intimidation and the 
lack of respect for human rights in Madagascar, including the 
arrests of political prisoners, the lack of due process, 
prohibitions on freedom of movement, and the denial of 
freedom of assembly. 
 
--  We call on the Malagasy leaders to take concrete steps as 
soon as possible to re-establish the rule of law, including 
by promoting constitutional rule and due process and limiting 
corruption.  Doing so is critical to creating a climate for 
reconciliation among the parties, and is also a necessary 
pre-requisite for the renewal of AGOA eligibility on which 
many jobs and a large part of Madagascar's export economy 
depend.  Meeting the established criteria for AGOA 
eligibility is the responsibility of the Malagasy 
authorities, not the USG. 
 
--  Finally, the U.S. expresses our view that the Group and 
its members should continue to act in a concerted manner to 
put pressure on the illegal authorities in Madagascar, as 
 
ANTANANARI 00000691  002 OF 002 
 
 
well as on the other political movements, to restore 
constitutional order through free, fair, and credible 
elections.  We encourage all Group members to continue their 
isolation and/or non-recognition of the HAT, in their words 
and in their deeds. 
 
-- The USG is prepared to support the electoral process in 
Madagascar only once a truly consensual, inclusive, and 
neutral government is in place. 
 
¶4. (SBU) For background and easy reference during the 
meeting, the following is a summary timeline of key events 
pertaining to the Malagasy crisis since the last ICG meeting 
on July 22: 
 
- July 22: The ICG issued a communiquQ condemning violence, 
warning against unilateral moves, and agreeing to convene a 
meeting of the four movements in Maputo under the leadership 
of Chissano. 
 
- August 9: A transition charter and supporting documents 
were signed by all four movements during negotiations in 
Maputo. 
 
- August 27:  The second round of talks in Maputo was blocked 
over who would occupy the top three posts in the transition 
government (Transition President, Vice President, and Prime 
Minister). 
 
- September 4: The Embassy issued a statement urging a 
peaceful, consensual resolution to the political crisis and 
encouraging "all parties to respect and reaffirm their 
commitment to the Maputo process and accords, notably through 
the rapid implementation of a consensual transition 
government."  The statement warned that "unilateral action by 
any party threatens to jeopardize the resolution of this 
political crisis, in which the United States remains, 
impartial."  Later that day, Rajoelina failed to compromise 
however, and ordered prime minister Monja to form a consensus 
government, indicating that his movement would retain the top 
two posts. 
 
- September 5: The ICG members in Antananarivo issued a 
statement calling on the parties to reach a consensual 
distribution of key transition posts and warning against 
unilateral solutions. 
 
- September 8: PM Monja, retained by TGV, announced the 
members of a "consensus" government that was far from 
consensual. 
 
- September 8: SADC issued a communique rejecting unilateral 
decisions that violate the spirit of the Maputo agreements 
and reiterated its suspension of Madagascar. 
 
- September 10: The AU Peace and Security Council issued a 
press statement expressing concern about the HAT's violation 
of the Maputo agreements and condemning the unilateral 
decisions made by Rajoelina.  The council decided to meet 
later to discuss sanctions. 
 
- September 18: The AU issued a communique announcing the 
third ICG-M and threatening to impose targeted sanctions 
against the perpetrators of the unconstitutional change of 
government if constitutional order is not restored. 
 
-- September 25:  SADC led a successful motion in the UNGA 
denying HAT President Rajoelina the opportunity to speak 
there.  He subsequented departed for Paris, where he has been 
for the past five days, meeting with the GOF, mediators, 
Ratsiraka, and perhaps others.  Vituperative anti-SADC 
rhetoric, including some targeting the mediators themselves, 
has become prevalent here (septel). 
 
¶5.  (U)  Please note that Ambassador Marquardt and 'Tana P/E 
Chief Dovie Holland will attend the ICG in support of 
Ambassador Carter.  In addition to the formal ICG events on 
October 6, we are seeking relevant side meetings for 
Ambassador Carter with key actors starting over the weekend. 
 
MARQUARDT