US embassy cable - 05PARIS3087

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 003087 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, TO, FR 
SUBJECT: TOGO: BOKO IN FRANCE 
 
Classified By: CDA Josiah Rosenblatt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) During a May 6 discussion on Togo with visiting 
staffdel Flynn, MFA PDAS-equivalent Elisabeth Barbier told 
Embassy Africa watcher that former Togolese Interior Minister 
Boko had arrived in France the evening of May 5.  Barbier was 
reluctant to provide details, and said that the GoF would be 
seeking to avoid publicity on Boko's presence in France. 
Reminded that the USG had offered to provide an armored 
vehicle to transport Boko to Ghana, Barbier finally told us 
that Boko had arrived in France directly from Lome on a 
non-commercial flight on a plane provided by Germany. 
Barbier said that Boko would be staying with a French female 
companion and had been told not to make any public statement. 
 
2. (C) Asked about the formation of a government of national 
unity, Barbier commented that the "radical" opposition had 
rejected this option.  Pressed on her characterization, 
Barbier said that the opposition had asked too much of ECOWAS 
and that UFC leader Gilchrist Olympio's policy was "based on 
revenge."  She lamented that FM Barnier's statements on the 
elections, intended as an expression of relief that violence 
had been limited, had resulted in negative media reaction in 
France.  She also noted that the presence of spin doctors 
like Charles Debbasch and Jean-Luc Maneaud in Togo was also 
negatively affecting France's image in Togo and in the region 
generally. 
 
3. (C) Barbier discounted the possibility the AU might engage 
on Togo.  Konare, she said, could say what he liked, but with 
Nigerian President Obasanjo already engaged in Togo, the AU 
was unlikely to supplant ECOWAS, particularly as South 
African President Mbeki was unlikely to involve himself. 
Looking forward, Barbier said that France would be working 
with EU partners on pressing the GoT to prepare satisfactory 
legislative elections in accordance with its 22 commitments 
to the EU under article 96 of the Cotonou agreement. 
ROSENBLATT