US embassy cable - 04ACCRA1524

C O N F I D E N T I A L ACCRA 001524 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2014 
TAGS: PREL, GH, ECOWAS 
SUBJECT: ACCRA III IS ON (FOR NOW) 
 
REF: ABIDJAN 1673 
 
Classified By: Polchief Richard Kaminski, reason 1.4 (B/D). 
 
1. (C)  On July 21, in a briefing for the diplomatic corps, 
Foreign Minister Nana Akufo-Addo formally announced the 
holding of the Accra III peace talks July 29-30.  Akufo-Addo 
listed presidents Mbeki, Obasanjo, Bongo, Toure, Kerekou and 
Kufuor as attendees, as well as Prime Minister Sama of Togo, 
ECOWAS Executive Secretary Ibn Chambas, UNSG Kofi Annan, and 
all the political players in Cote d'Ivoire, including Gbagbo, 
Ouattara, Bedie, Diarra and Soro.  He also passed out copies 
of a statement on the AU summit he had presented to 
Parliament.  He then took questions. 
 
2.  (C) When asked of Abidjan press speculation on a possible 
postponement (reftel), Akufo-Addo uncharacteristically 
hesitated, and then said that "if the parties feel that not 
enough has been completed" (re LMA legislation and other 
items), a postponement could result.  However, he said that 
"for the time being," the conference was on.  "Let's cross 
the bridge when we come to it," he remarked.  He reiterated 
that the GOG had firm commitments of participation from 
everyone he had mentioned. 
 
3.  (C) In response to another question, he said that a 
pre-Accra III negotiation session, involving the Ivorien 
parties, President Kufuor, and Chambas, was planned.  Soro 
would arrive over the weekend, he said, with Bedie and Diarra 
coming the 26th, and Ouattara the 27 (he mentioned no date 
for President Gbagbo). 
 
4.  (C) In the hallways of the conference center after the 
briefing, Ghanaian Foreign Ministry officials told polchief 
that an emissary from President Gbagbo was expected that day, 
bringing an "important" (undisclosed) message.  The Moroccan 
Ambassador, who we find usually quite well informed, told us 
later that "of course it's a request to put off the talks." 
However, Foreign Ministry Supervising Director Leslie 
Christian said that, although there had been initial 
hesitation from several of the Ivorien parties, "all" were 
now willing to attend. 
 
5.  (SBU) Comment.  While acknowledging the potential for a 
postponement, Akufo-Addo advised the diplomatic corps that 
the planning for Accra III continues, a sentiment echoed by 
his ministry colleagues in the hallways afterwards.  Much 
appears to depend upon the ability (and willingness) of 
Ivorien parties to redeem pledges made at the AU summit 
regarding LMA legislation and the like.  End comment. 
 
YATES