SUBJECT: EU/SUDAN: FMS THREATEN SANCTIONS, PLEDGE

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 003195 SIPDIS AF FOR TSMITH/MBITTRICK; USAID FOR PPC/DCO, RMT DARFUR RHOAD, AF FOR KALMQUIST E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EAID SU EUN USEU BRUSSELS SUBJECT: SUBJECT: EU/SUDAN: FMS THREATEN SANCTIONS, PLEDGE MORE MONEY ¶1. In a meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) on July 26, EU FMs threatened sanctions if Sudan does not soon comply with international expectations on Darfur. The GAERC Conclusions (available at http://ue.eu.int/) offer a very critical assessment of progress on the ground, and call for a UNSCR "with a view to further actions, including imposing sanctions" if the GOS does not immediately fulfill its commitments. Although not imposing sanctions immediately, Dutch FM Bernard Bot, representing the EU Presidency, highlighted that "the EU will follow events very closely and, in light of further developments, will take action." EU Member States agreed to continue an "active dialogue" with the Sudanese government and militia groups, Bot said. He also referred to "active policy negotiations" with the UN, AU, and US on the issue. He said that FMs had agreed to follow the path of the UN's agreement with Khartoum, which allows Sudan 90 days to improve the situation. ¶2. Though Bot emphasized the EU's demand for better containment of the rebels, he gave recognition to some of the recent measures the Sudanese government has taken to improve the situation -- e.g. the deployment of a police force with four thousand officers, increased access for nearly 120 monitors, and the arrest of rebel leaders. To determine if sanctions need to be applied, the EU will rely heavily on the reports of the monitors, as well as on the report of SYG Annan's special representative. If necessary, the ministers will meet again to determine the nature of the sanctions, "in light of the situation in the field." Bot also announced an additional 12 million Euros for the AU observer mission in Sudan, bringing the total EU contribution for humanitarian relief efforts in Sudan to 213 million Euros. ¶3. European Commission DG AIDCO officials assured USEU Development Counselor that in view of the urgency, funds will be disbursed to the African Union's bank account by the end of this week. MINIMIZE CONSIDERED Sammis