US embassy cable - 05PARIS2726

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 002726 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2015 
TAGS: PREL, TO, FR 
SUBJECT: TOGO: FRENCH MFA HOPING FOR CREDIBLE ELECTIONS AND 
NO VIOLENCE 
 
REF: A. PARIS 1229 (NOTAL) 
     B. PARIS 952 (NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: Acting DCM Josiah Rosenblatt for reason 1.4 (b/d). 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  MFA DAS-equivalent for West Africa Foucher 
on April 20 discussed elections in Togo.  He said that France 
opposed Germany's efforts to have the EU call for postponing 
the elections.  He predicted that there would inevitably be 
fraud during the elections but hoped that it would not be so 
great as to discredit the results.  Foucher reiterated 
France's support of ECOWAS.  There would be no official 
French elections observers from Paris.  Foucher said the 
French did not favor any specific outcome to the elections 
but hoped only that they be held in a credible manner. 
Foucher forcefully distanced the GOF from Charles Debbasch, a 
close associate of the Eyadema regime who continues to be 
active in Togo.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C)  MFA DAS-equivalent for West Africa Bruno Foucher met 
with Africa Watcher April 20 to discuss a range of topics 
(septels).  Concerning Togo, he said that France opposed 
Germany's request that the European Union recommend 
postponing elections in Togo.  He offered an EU text on this 
matter that France could support, although he was not certain 
that the EU would adopt it (text in para 7 below). 
 
3.  (C)  Foucher reiterated French support of ECOWAS and its 
efforts to move Togo forward following Eyadema's death.  He 
said that ECOWAS's evaluation of the elections would weigh 
heavily in France's assessment of their credibility.  Foucher 
said that France would not send election observers, however. 
Two French senators were willing to go to Togo, but the GOF 
preferred that they do so under the aegis of the 
International Francophonie Organization (OIF).  The OIF, 
however, declined to give its imprimatur to the senators, so 
the GOF decided not to send them.  Foucher indicated that the 
GOF wanted to avoid the appearance of French intrusion into 
the elections and had concerns that the security situation in 
Togo might prove tenuous.  Hence, only the French Embassy in 
Togo would observe the elections on the GOF's behalf. 
 
4.  (C)  When asked what would happen if Faure Gnassingbe 
won, Foucher said the situation could become difficult, as 
the opposition had already signaled that it would likely 
protest such an outcome.  Foucher said that there were bound 
to be voting irregularities, but he hoped they would prove to 
be small and not systemic.  He hoped "we don't discover 
massive fraud."  He acknowledged that there seemed to be 
evidence of voting cards that had not reached voters, either 
through oversight, neglect, or fraud.  Foucher said that 
France hoped the elections would be carried out in a manner 
that would allow observers to find the results credible. 
 
5.  (C)  Referring again to French support for ECOWAS, 
Foucher noted that ECOWAS planned to have 120 observers in 
place.  He acknowledged that France might find itself in a 
difficult position if ECOWAS's post-election assessment of 
the vote was "ambiguous."  Foucher at several points 
reiterated that France had no favorite in the presidential 
race and would accept its outcome, so long as the elections 
were seen as credible. 
 
6.  (C)  When asked about Charles Debbasch, the French 
citizen long involved in the Eyadema regime's affairs 
(reftels), Foucher strongly and emphatically stated that 
Debbasch had no connection whatsoever with the GOF and was 
working solely on his own behalf.  He noted Debbasch's legal 
problems in France and referred to him in ways suggesting 
that Foucher considered him a fugitive from justice.  Foucher 
said that he personally had been involved in having the GOF 
refuse two requests that Debbasch be accorded Togolese 
"ambassadorial" status, which Foucher said were plainly 
attempts by Debbasch to protect himself and his property in 
France.  Debbasch, according to Foucher, was still attempting 
to obtain diplomatic status in Portugal and Germany. 
 
7.  (SBU)  Informal Embassy translation of draft EU text on 
elections in Togo. 
 
BEGIN TEXT: 
 
--  On the eve of the presidential elections that will have 
an important effect on the future of the country, the EU 
expresses the hope that they will take place correctly and 
calmly.  In this regard, it expresses its concern with 
respect to the tensions that have marked preparations for the 
elections and that have led to a degradation of the political 
climate in Togo. 
 
--  The EU calls on all Togolese political forces and 
institutions to demonstrate responsibility and openness to 
ensure that every citizen has the chance to vote freely, in a 
calm and transparent environment, so that the elections can 
be held credibly. 
--  The EU renews its support to the efforts of ECOWAS for 
its mediation and for the follow-up to the electoral process, 
within the framework of the accord between the majority and 
the opposition that was adopted on February 28, under the 
leadership of President Tandja. 
 
--  The EU is following closely the holding of electoral 
operations before, during, and after the vote and will base 
its future positions in consideration of all these elements. 
 
--  The EU recalls the importance of respecting the 22 
elements undertaken by the Togolese Government within the 
framework of consultations concerning article 96 of the 
Cotonou Agreement with respect to the restoration of 
democracy, respect for human rights, and respect for 
fundamental freedoms. 
 
END TEXT. 
WOLFF