VZCZCXRO7535
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHTRO
DE RUEHRY #0698/01 3071516
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031516Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4206
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CONAKRY 000698 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV GV
SUBJECT: CHARGE DELIVERS FIRM MESSAGE TO GUINEA'S FOREIGN 
MINISTER 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Guinea's Foreign Minister used the pretext 
of a possible meeting with the Secretary to raise the issue 
of US visa restrictions. In his first encounter with the 
Foreign Minister since the September 28 violence, Charge 
reiterated the US position that the killing and raping of 
unarmed civilians by the military was a horrific act of 
unparalleled barbarity; Dadis should relinquish power for the 
good of Guinea. Charge also raised the arrest of hunger 
striker Thierno Balde and his colleagues, as well as the 
imminent arrival of Ambassador Moller. End Summary 
 
-------------------------------- 
A MEETING WITH SECRETARY CLINTON 
-------------------------------- 
 
 ¶2. (SBU) On October 30, two days before the arrival of 
Ambassador Moller, Foreign Minister Alexandre Cece Loua 
requested a meeting with Charge on short notice. He received 
Charge alone in his office at the Foreign Ministry. After 
some subdued pleasantries, the Foreign Minister explained 
that he intended to visit Washington between November 14 and 
17 to meet with Secretary Clinton. He said he had a long and 
fruitful meeting with AF Assistant Secretary Carson during 
his last visit to the US, and now wished to raise issues with 
the Secretary. He would be dropping off his passport for a 
renewal of his NIV. He claimed to be working out the details 
of the visit with the Guinea Desk office, and asked if Charge 
had been informed. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Charge knew nothing of the visit, and opined that 
such an initiative seemed highly unusual considering that the 
United States Government does not recognize the ruling CNDD 
military junta and has openly called for the resignation of 
the president. However, Charge promised to look into the 
matter and get back to the Minister. Note: Guinea Desk 
Officer informed Charge by phone shortly after the meeting 
that he had heard nothing of any such visit, and agreed that 
any meeting with between the Foreign Minister and Secretary 
was out of the question. End Note 
 
----------------- 
VISA RESTRICTIONS 
----------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Still on the subject of travel, Loua said he had 
heard that the US had announced visa restrictions for certain 
members of the CNDD. He wished to know if the list had been 
made public, and how would those affected be informed. This 
was clearly the real purpose behind the meeting; the EU 
Delegation Chief told Charge that she had been summoned to 
the Foreign Minister's office the previous day to discuss 
visa restrictions. During this meeting the Foreign Minister 
asked if he too would be subject to EU restrictions. That the 
Foreign Minister had taken the unusual step of meeting Charge 
alone suggested that he has a personal interest in the 
matter. Charge replied that the US would not publish a list 
of names, but affected individuals would be duly informed. 
 
------------------------------- 
CALL FOR THE DEPARTURE OF DADIS 
------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Turning to negotiations between the Forces Vives and 
the CNDD in Ouagadougou, Loua said the government was trying 
to build a consensual position. However it was under enormous 
international pressure to make concessions as well a harsh 
criticism for the events of September 28. Charge said such 
criticism was well deserved, that any government that orders 
its troops to fire into a crowd of peaceful unarmed 
civilians, then finishes off the killings by publicly raping 
surviving women should expect an outraged reaction from the 
international community. Charge said the killings and rapes 
demonstrated an unprecedented level of hate and barbarity. 
Pointing to a photograph depicting Dadis grinning in dark 
glasses with his arm thrown over a smiling Loua, Charge 
speculated that in time Loua himself would hide the picture 
out of shame and fear. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Charge recalled to the Foreign Minister that less 
than a month before DAS Fitzgerald had urged Dadis to step 
down and depart the country, and reminded Loua that this 
remained the view of the United States. By his use of savage 
and unrestrained force on his own citizens, Dadis had 
abdicated whatever dubious right he had to govern. The only 
way forward was for Dadis to make an exit. Charge made clear 
that the government of Guinea would never enjoy complete and 
fruitful diplomatic relations with the US so long as Captain 
 
CONAKRY 00000698  002 OF 002 
 
 
Camara remained in power. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Loua listened, nodding in silence, then said that he 
too believed Dadis should step down for the good of the 
country. "The problem will be the transition, and what to do 
with the army," he sighed. He concluded that Dadis should 
remain in power to ensure a peaceful transition, and then 
take his leave of the country. Charge agreed that the 
transition had to be well-planned to avoid violence, but was 
skeptical that Dadis could be trusted to act so honorably. 
Previous experience indicates that he would likely jump at 
every opportunity to stall the process. 
 
------------------------- 
ARREST OF HUNGER STRIKERS 
------------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Charge also raised USG concerns over the arrest of 
youth leader Thierno Balde and a number of other activists 
rounded up October 28 after the group started a hunger 
strike. Charge said that Balde's arrest had drawn 
considerable attention in the US and at the State Department. 
Charge noted that the unwarranted arrests once again 
underscored the government's use of force and coercion as its 
preferred expedient in resolving political issues. Charge 
wrote Balde's name on a piece of paper for the Foreign 
Minister, and urged the Minister to coordinate with security 
forces to ensure that Balde and his companions were not 
mistreated. 
 
------------------------- 
ARRIVAL OF NEW AMBASSADOR 
------------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) At the end of the meeting Charge informed the 
Foreign Minister that the new United States Ambassador to 
Guinea would arrive in country on November 1. Charge said the 
embassy would handle all arrangements surrounding her 
arrival, and requested that the government make no plans to 
meet her at the airport. The Minister said he was aware of 
Ambassador Moller's imminent arrival. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
10 (SBU) Comment: Foreign Minister Loua clearly called the 
meeting to determine if he too would be subject to visa 
sanctions. He appeared visibly worried as Charge elaborated 
on the visa restriction procedure and noted that a good many 
deserving individuals may find themselves members of the 
"Visa Club." Also interesting to note is the Foreign 
Minister's total lack of reaction to Charge's repeated 
assertions that Dadis was unfit to rule Guinea and should 
resign for the good of the country. That a cabinet minister 
of his rank would take such a blast from a Charge without 
offering even a token defense of Dadis suggests a man shamed 
by events, cowed by the threat of international sanctions, 
and uncertain of where he stands. The Foreign Minister's 
quiet agreement that the President should step down also 
suggests that disillusion over the current government is 
beginning to affect even the most privileged officials. End 
Comment 
Moller