US embassy cable - 05PARIS2201

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 002201 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/01/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, IV, FR 
SUBJECT: COTE D'IVOIRE:  OUATTARA SAYS IT MAY BE TIME FOR 
SANCTIONS 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Embassy Africa watcher met March 31 with RDR leader 
Allasane Dramane Ouattara at Ouattara's Paris office to 
deliver a message from the Secretary responding to Ouattara's 
message of congratulations on her appointment. 
 
2. (C) Ouattara's office, located at 124 Avenue Victor Hugo, 
has no external marking, although a historical marker outside 
notes that the address was Victor Hugo's last residence.  The 
office was staffed by a secretary and at least three others 
including Ally Coulibaly, "Director of Communication," and 
Adama Toungara, the mayor of the Abidjan district of Abobo. 
 
3. (C) After expressing appreciation for the Secretary's 
message, Ouattara told Africa watcher that while he had 
confidence in South African President Thabo Mbeki's 
"methodical" efforts, the crisis in Cote d'Ivoire was urgent 
and the time was approaching when sanctions against those who 
were blocking the process should be considered.  He said that 
the threat of sanctions in December was what had led to 
President Gbagbo sending legislation to parliament for 
approval. 
 
4. (C) Ouattara said that he was leaving for Pretoria April 1 
to participate with Gbagbo, former President Bedie and NF 
leader Soro in talks hosted by Mbeki.  Asked about his return 
to Paris, Ouattara claimed that Gabonese President Bongo and 
Nigerian President Obasanjo had invited him for talks. 
Ouattara seemed more certain that he would stop in Libreville 
than in Abuja.  Ouattara said that he would be pleased to 
provide us with his views on the Pretoria meetings on his 
return to Paris. 
LEACH