VZCZCXRO1759
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHOU #0004/01 0061457
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061457Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5996
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OUAGADOUGOU 000004 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL SOCI UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO: ECONOMICS AND DEMOCRACY ARE 
HIGHLIGHTED IN COMPAORE,S NEW YEAR,S SPEECH. 
 
¶1.  (U)  SUMMARY: In his traditional New Year's address, 
President Blaise Compaore focused on economics, including 
sustainable and balanced development, economic growth, the 
fight against corruption, and infrastructure development.  He 
also reflected on broader aspects of democracy with an 
emphasis on education and health reforms, and broached the 
topic of institutional and political change. Compaore 
announced that as of January 2010, anti-retroviral treatment 
(ARV) for HIV positive patients would henceforth be free of 
charge.  The president declared that, despite adversity, 
climactic or economic, Burkina Faso is progressing.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
Focus on economics 
------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U)  In his traditional New Year's address, President 
Blaise Compaore said that during the past year, Burkina Faso 
has focused on, and will continue to focus on, sustainable 
and balanced development.  Host to the Seventh World Forum on 
Sustainable Development, Burkina Faso also took an active 
role during the Copenhagen Summit: "I hope that the nations 
of the world will ensure they bequeath a livable planet to 
future generations." 
 
¶3.  (U)  He went on to say that throughout the past year, 
economic crises and meteorological changes impacted Burkina 
Faso negatively by affecting export revenues and decreasing 
investment opportunities.  Despite the global economic 
downturn, Burkina Faso made notable economic progress in 2009 
and has nurtured hope in the development of a mining 
industry.  The economic environment has made it clear that 
there is a necessity to engage in multi-faceted development 
as a way to limit the impact of a sometimes fickle and 
unpredictable world economy, the president claimed.  The G-20 
summit and its quest for a sounder world economic order is a 
source of hope for less developed countries, according to 
Compaore, and Burkina Faso reaffirmed its belief that through 
regional economic integration (across the African continent) 
State economic vulnerabilities can be limited. 
 
¶4.  (U)  In order to increase the efficiency of development 
strategies the president added, financial accountability of 
public spending needs to be further highlighted.  The fight 
against corruption, in all spheres (political, economic and 
social)  is indispensable: "It is imperative to continue the 
fight against corruption, but also encourage sound management 
practices  of State resources.   These practices will lead to 
a healthier business climate."  President Compaore suggested 
that in order to provide better access to transportation for 
rural populations, infrastructural investments need to be 
made, notably to build roads, railroads and airports.  In the 
coming year, a special emphasis will be placed on the 
construction of rural roads in order to strengthen the 
decentralization process.  The network that interconnects 
Burkina Faso to the Ivorian electrical system will also be 
enlarged to provide better reliability and a wider 
distribution of energy. 
 
Emphasis on democratic principles and basic social services 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
¶5.  (U)  The second part of Compaore's New Year's speech 
focused on democratic principles and prerequisites.  He 
explained that basic social services, such as education and 
health would become priorities in 2010 and promised 
investments in those domains.  He also reflected on the 
achievements of the past year, particularly those that 
demonstrated democratic progress such as official conferring 
of a the status of "leader of the opposition," passage of an 
electoral gender quota law (for legislative and municipal 
elections only), and the signing of a private media 
convention.  Compaore offered that these are examples of how 
Burkina Faso wants to build a peaceful and just society: 
"Throughout the year, the people of Burkina Faso have 
demonstrated their willingness to anchor democracy firmly." 
Looking forward Compaore suggested that changes would be 
necessary to consolidate democracy and strengthen the 
institutions: "The strengthening of a democratic culture 
demands the elaboration and application of political and 
institutional reforms." 
 
¶6.  (U)  Recognizing that human capital is the most precious 
resource to ensure durable development, Compaore explained 
that improvements to the education system would also be a 
priority in 2010.  He promised that schools and universities 
will be built during the coming year, a special teacher 
status will be ratified and finally progress would be made to 
narrow the gender gap in education.  In an announcement that 
made headlines in most newspapers, Compaore declared that ARV 
treatment for HIV positive patients would henceforth be free 
 
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in Burkina Faso. 
 
¶7.  (U)  Social peace in Burkina Faso is dependent on peace 
in Africa suggested Compaore,  and Africa will be incapable 
of focusing on the numerous obstacles to development without 
that peace.  Further elaborating, he recalled that during its 
UNSC presidency (December 2009), Burkina Faso had worked hard 
towards achieving this ongoing peace.  "We must continue to 
work towards peace, we must work to restore dialogue among 
belligerent groups in order to achieve this peace." 
 
¶8.  (U)  The New Year's address concluded by promising that 
2010 would be the year during which "democracy will be firmly 
rooted in Burkina Faso, and during which freedoms will be 
expanded notably with the holding of Presidential elections." 
(Note: Elections are slated for November 2010.  It is widely 
believed that Compaore, who has been in power since 1987, 
will easily win reelection. End Note.)  Without omitting to 
mention the role of international donors and supporters, 
Compaore included them in his recognition and thanks: "I 
express my gratitude to the friends of Burkina Faso, 
development partners, and each member of the international 
community that constantly supports our quest for progress." 
 
¶9.  (SBU) COMMENT:  While his roadmap for the coming year 
might appear a little ambitious, Compaore's speech contained 
a number of interesting points.  Of note is the fact that for 
the third time in a month (December 11, December 30 and 
December 31st) he has mentioned the need for political and 
institutional reform.  Certainly not far from the Compaore's 
mind was the fact that elections are just around the corner. 
Also, because the President has been criticized for spending 
so much time on international affairs and mediation of 
regional disputes, he probably felt the need to concentrate 
on domestic issues in the run-up to the elections and burnish 
his credentials on the home front. 
LAEUCHLI