TOGO'S GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION LEADERS HELD THEIR FIRST POLITICAL DIALOGUE IN MORE THAN FIVE YEARS ON FRIDAY, A CONDITION DEMANDED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION TO RESUME SUSPENDED AID TO THE SMALL WEST AFRICAN STATE, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. BRUSSELS FROZE ITS COOPERATION WITH TOGO IN 1993, CITING THE POOR DEMOCRATIC RECORD OF THEN PRESIDENT GNASSINGBE EYADEMA WHO HAD RULED THE FORMER FRENCH COLONY SINCE 1967 AFTER SEIZING POWER IN A COUP. FOLLOWING EYADEMA'S DEATH LAST YEAR, HIS SON, FAURE GNASSINGBE, WON DISPUTED ELECTIONS THAT TRIGGERED RIOTING IN WHICH SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE WERE KILLED, REUTERS REPORTED. GNASSINGBE'S GOVERNMENT HAS COME UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE TO MEET OPPONENTS TO DISCUSS ISSUES LIKE INSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL REFORMS, THE HOLDING OF FUTURE ELECTIONS AND THE RETURN OF THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES WHO HAD FLED TO NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES. "THE GOVERNMENT IS READY TO START TALKS ON ALL THESE PROBLEMS WITH A TOTALLY OPEN MIND," PRIME MINISTER EDEM KODJO SAID AS HE OPENED THE MEETING IN THE PRESENCE OF FOREIGN DIPLOMATS. THE TALKS ARE EXPECTED TO LAST SOME TWO WEEKS. "THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTENTION OF SHYING AWAY FROM IMPORTANT ISSUES LIKE THE RETURN OF REFUGEES, COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGES, THE REFORM OF THE SECURITY SERVICES AND THE PROBLEM OF IMPUNITY," KODJO SAID AT THE START OF THE TALKS. --MORE 2119 Local Time 1819 GMT
