14 February 2003
France Key to Peace in Cote d'Ivoire, U.S. Official Says
(W. Kansteiner says French were "driving" Marcoussis talks) (650)
By Jim Fisher-Thompson
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington -- Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Walter
Kansteiner told Congress February 12 that widespread bloodshed was
averted in the recent rebellion in Cote d'Ivoire thanks to French
intervention. Moreover, chances for a lasting peace had been
heightened by a French-sponsored agreement signed by the warring
parties in Marcoussis January 24.
Kansteiner made his comments to the House Africa Subcommittee
conducting a public hearing on 'Prospects for Peace in Ivory Coast.'
He pointed out that after a violent coup attempt last September that
included the murder of former Ivoirian Army General Robert Guei, "Only
the intervening presence of French military forces prevented the
rebels from marching from Bouake, in central Cote d'Ivoire, to
Abidjan."
Since fighting began, the French have been "truly driving" the peace
process, Kansteiner told Subcommittee Chairman Ed Royce (Republican of
California). And he added, "I think the Marcoussis framework has a
good chance of working [because] it calls for a government of national
reconciliation and forces Ivoirian political parties to address tough
questions" like citizenship, land ownership and eligibility for the
presidency.
Asked by Royce how committed he thought the French would remain to the
peace process in their former colony, Kansteiner said, "My
conversations with Paris would suggest they are in it for the long
haul."
Kansteiner pointed out that France remained heavily engaged in Cote
d'Ivoire because of the past. He told the lawmakers, "As you know,
historically, Cote d'Ivoire has had a defense pact with France. In
fact, if there was ever a national security threat [to Cote d'Ivoire],
the French were obligated, by treaty, to come to Cote d'Ivoire's
assistance. Hence the low level of preparedness by the Ivoirian
Army...because they historically always rely on the French."
Thanks to French intervention, Kansteiner said, "I think the
Marcoussis framework has a good chance of working." But he stressed
that it was up to the Ivoirians to tackle the tough issues and bring
about peace themselves.
Royce agreed, adding, "We all hope the recently signed Marcoussis
Agreement is the beginning of this troubling conflict's end." However,
he added a caveat. "It is hard for me to see how this French-backed
peace plan is not a reward to rebels who fought their way to the
negotiating table, and if the plan is followed, into legitimate
positions of political power."
Kansteiner responded: "That is very much a concern for us...and that
is not a signal we want to send to the rest of Africa or the rest of
the world. So it requires some real diplomatic and
constitution-writing skills to make sure that benefits that might
occur to society do not occur because someone took up a gun."
Ranking Subcommittee member Donald Payne (Democrat of New Jersey) also
praised France's intervention noting, "The involvement of the French
Government, also through the use of troops, in its role in evacuating
French citizens and other foreigners, and by hosting the peace talks
has been key [to peace] as well." But he added, ""We need to make a
clear message that you can't take power with the barrel of a gun. You
can't support rule of law in one place and not in another."
As for U.S. aid, Kansteiner told the lawmakers, "We are actively
helping the ECOFORCE [a deployment of peacekeepers from the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS)] now both with financial
support and also equipment [worth $1.5 million].
Asked by lawmakers if there was any proof that Libyan strongman
Colonel Muammar Qadhafi or the al Qaeda terrorist network were
supporting the rebels, Kansteiner said, "We have not seen any
evidence" of a Libyan role in the conflict and "We have not seen any
direct links [to al Qaeda] that I'm aware of."
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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