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70
ACTION AF-06
INFO OCT-01 EUR-12 ISO-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-04 H-02
INR-07 L-03 NSAE-00 NSC-05 PA-01 PRS-01 SP-02 SS-15
USIA-06 /065 W
--------------------- 008928
R 251730Z FEB 76
FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1022
INFO AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
AMEMBASSY LOME
AMEMBASSY NIAMEY
AMEMBASSY PARIS
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE OUAGADOUGOU 551
LOME FOR AMB GRAHAM PARIS FOR MELONE
EO 11652: NA
TAGS: PINT, PGOV, UV
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT LAMIZANA HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE GIVING
BACKGROUND ON NEW GOVERNMENT FORMED FEB 9, 1976
BEGIN UNCLASSIFIED:
1. ENTIRE TEXT BEING FORWARDED BY POUCH.
2. IN A NO HOLDS BARRED PRESS CONFERENCE, THE LIKE OF
WHICH IS RARELY SEEN ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT, PRESIDENT
LAMIZANA ADDRESSED QUESTIONS POSED BY VARIOUS JOURNALISTS
CONCERNING SEVERAL AREAS OF CONCERN ABOUT THE NEW GOVERNMENT
THAT HAVE BEEN THE SOURCE OF GENERAL PUBLIC DISCUSSION SINCE
ITS FORMATION.
HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESIDENT'S STATEMENTS FOLLOW:
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A. THE NEW GOVERNMENT REPRESENTS ONLY A CHANGE IN PERSONNEL.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT IS PREDOMINANTLY CIVILIAN, IT IS NONE
THE LESS A MILITARY GOVERNMENT. THE DECLARATIONS OF FEB 8,
1974 STILL OPERATE.
B. A SPECIAL COMMISSION WILL SOON BE APPOINTED WHOSE RESPONSI-
BILITY WILL INCLUDE THE STUDY OF THE ESSENTIAL QUESTION OF RETURNING
TO CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT.
C. THE FORMATION OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INDICATE
A DEPARTURE FROM THE CONCEPT OF NATIONAL RENEWAL.
D. THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT WERE SELECTED BECAUSE
OF THEIR PATRIOTISM, COMPETENCE AND ABILITY TO PERFORM.
THEY WERE EACH SELECTED AS INDIVIDUALS. NO CONSIDERATION
WHATSOEVER WAS GIVEN TO GROUPS OF AFFILIATIONS TO BE
REPRESENTED. IN THIS RESPECT THE ACCUSATION THAT A MAJORITY
OF THE MEMBERS REPRESENT THE MLN POLITICAL PARTY IS INVALID
BECAUSE SINCE 30 MAY 74 THE MLN AS WELL AS ALL OTHER POLITICAL
PARTIES WAS DISSOLVED. NO POLITICAL PARTY HAS ANY LEGAL
CLAIM TO EXISTENCE IN UPPER VOLTA.
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3. COMMENT: DESPITE FRANK INTERCHANGE, IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT
THE LABOR UNIONS WILL BE SATISFIED WITH THE PRESIDENT'S
REMARKS, THE UNIONS ARE ESPECIALLY CONCERNED THAT THIS
GOVERNMENT ONLY BE CONSIDERED PROVISIONAL AND THAT A DEFINITE
TIME TABLE BE ESTABLISHED FOR THE CHANGE OVER TO CONSTITUTIONAL
OR CIVILIAN RULE. SO FAR, LAMAZANA'S ADROITNESS HAS ENABLED
HIM TO EFFECTIVELY COPE WITH UNION DISSATISFACTION.
DUMAS
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