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Burkinabe President Tries to Mediate Differences between Guineaâs
Presidential Candidates

   Peter Clottey 02 September 2010
   Burkina   Faso   President   Blaise  Compaore,  right,  greets  Guinea
   presidential frontrunner Cellou Dalein Diallo (file photo)

Photo: AP

   Burkina   Faso   President   Blaise  Compaore,  right,  greets  Guinea
   presidential  frontrunner  Cellou  Dalein  Diallo,  as  he  meets with
   members  of  the  transitional  government  at  the People's Palace in
   Conakry, Guinea, 3 Aug 2010 (file photo)

   The  president of Guineaâs Research Institute on Democracy and Rule of
   Law,  a  non-governmental  organization,  told VOA Burkinabe President
   Blaise  Compaore  is mediating talks between Guineaâs two presidential
   candidates.

   Attorney  Thierno Balde said the ongoing talks are aimed at preventing
   violence,  as  well  as resolving all outstanding issues, ahead of the
   19^th September second round presidential vote.

   âWhen  President  Blaise Compaore came to visit General Sekouba Konate
   two  weeks  ago,  they  agreed  that  he  will  invite the two leading
   candidates  to  Ouagadougou  to hold talks and to agree on the process
   which will lead to the elections on September 19^th,â he said.

   Backed  by  the  Economic  Community  of West African States (ECOWAS),
   President   Compaore   is   helping  Guineaâs  efforts  to  return  to
   constitutional rule.

   There has been reported tension between the two presidential aspirants
   and their supporters during campaigns ahead of the vote.

   Long  time  opposition  leader Alpha Conde accused some members of the
   electoral  commission  of  violating  the countryâs electoral code and
   demanded their removal ahead of the vote.

   Former  Prime  Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo also accused Mr. Conde of
   having  an  agreement with the transitional Prime Minister, Jean-Marie
   Dore, to help manipulate the results of the vote.

   Attorney  Balde  said the presidential candidates are expected to sign
   an  agreement  after  the  talks  pledging  to  use  legal  means, not
   violence,  to address their concerns over the results of the September
   vote.

   âAccording to close (aides) of the two candidates, the idea is to have
   an  agreement  between  them  so  that,  when  the  elections  will be
   organized,  both  of  them  will accept the results. And that, if they
   have any issue, they will use the legal means and, that no matter what
   happens, they will avoid using violence as a means of expressing their
   views,â Balde said.

   He  said  officials in the transitional government have announced that
   they  have  been  able to resolve the controversial issues surrounding
   the first round of voting to ensure a better second round.

   International  poll observers have concluded the 27th June first round
   vote was credible despite isolated reports of voter irregularities. It
   was  Guineaâs  first  democratic  vote  since  the  country gained its
   independence in 1958 from France.

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