EU CONTINUES TO EXERT PRESSURE ON SUDAN: SNYDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 004410

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF PHUM SU EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: EU CONTINUES TO EXERT PRESSURE ON SUDAN: SNYDER
CONSULTATIONS

REF: BRUSSELS 4016

Classified By: PRMOFF MARC J. MEZNAR. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (SBU) Summary. During October 11 consultations with
Department's Senior Representative on Sudan Charles Snyder,
the EU shared Snyder's assessment that concluding a
comprehensive peace settlement between the North and the
South was essential to stabilize the country. Snyder said
the EU's generous assistance package was an important
"carrot" in this process. The two sides discussed ways to
cooperate in expediting the deployment of an expanded AU
protection force to Darfur. Javier Solana's Personal
Representative for Sudan Pieter Feith said he would encourage
EU Member States to provide in-kind logistical support. EU
military planners, however, cautioned that too much pressure
to "fast forward" the deployment might provoke a failed
mission. Nonetheless, EU advisors in Addis are helping the
AU reformulate its request for EU funding that would allow
1000 military personnel to be on the ground in Darfur by
October 30. The Commission is prepared to fund up to 50
percent of this entire operation. The EU informed Snyder
that a high level EU delegation led by Dutch Foreign Minister
Ben Bot would leave for Sudan on October 12. The EU will
pressure the Sudanese government to finish the Naivasha peace
talks and to end the violence in Darfur. Following a
meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg on October 11,
the EU again called on the Government of Sudan to disarm the
janjaweed militias and to facilitate humanitarian access.
They also said the threat of sanctions against Sudan must be
maintained. End Summary.

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North-South Peace Agreement
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2. (SBU) In separate meetings with the European Commission
and the European Council on October 11, Snyder gave readouts
of his recent meetings with Sudanese Vice President Taha and
other officials in the region. The EU shared his assessment
that concluding a comprehensive peace settlement between the
North and the South was essential to stabilize the country.
Anders Henriksson, Director for Horn, East and Southern
Africa (DG Development),said that EU Foreign Ministers would
stress this point in their conclusions on Sudan later in the
day. Snyder characterized the large EU assistance packages
as an important "carrot" in encourage the opposing factions
to work towards a comprehensive peace settlement. Henriksson
said that the longer the two sides took to finalize the peace
accords, the less money would be available. Already, 10
percent of the total package for Sudan has been re-programmed
to other parts of Africa (including the EU's number one
priority on the continent, the Great Lakes). The EC also
noted that increasing revenue from oil makes the Sudanese
less dependent on development assistance.


3. (U) The EU informed Snyder that a high level EU
delegation led by Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot would leave
for Sudan on October 12. The EU will pressure the Sudanese
government to finish the Naivasha peace talks and to end the
violence in Darfur.


4. (U) Note. The EU Council conclusion Henriksson referred to
"notes with appreciation the resumption of the negotiations
between the GoS and the SPLM/A under the auspices of IGAD and
urges both parties to conclude the discussions on the
outstanding issues as soon as possible, to sign a
comprehensive peace agreement and to implement it without
delay. The Council is of the view that a speedy conclusion
of the 'Naivasha process' could provide a political platform
to address the underlying causes of the ongoing conflicts in
Sudan, including Darfur; to accelerate the pace of reforms;
to promote human rights; and to establish a genuine and
constrictive dialogue with the political forces that are not
present in Naivasha." End note.

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Expanded AU Mission in Darfur
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5. (C) The two sides also discussed at length the role of
the AU in stabilizing the situation in Darfur. Fernando
Valenzuela, Deputy Director General of DG RELEX, spoke of the
delicate balancing act between allowing the AU to take
ownership of the process while providing enough support to
ensure a successful outcome. He said that the UN was well
placed to convey to the AU the importance of the donor
community's involvement with the logistical planning and
deployment of the expanded monitoring and protection force.
Valenzuela also opined that the AU should see the logic in
acknowledging they are not ready to go at it alone. Both
sides agreed that the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) might
mirror the role played by AMIB in Burundi -- a bridge to a
full-fledged UN peacekeeping operation.


6. (C) The EU asked about the "BBQ approach" (broad, big and
quick) to deployment in Darfur, recently espoused by the U.S.
Council Secretariat Coordinator of Political-Military and
Defense Policy Relations Matthew Reece expressed doubt
whether "fast forwarding" the mission was logistically
possible. He said that since there was virtually nothing on
the ground to support a large deployment, equipment and
supplies would have to be procured and then flown in. Snyder
said that because helicopter gunship attacks on civilian
populations were continuing (he reported an additional 10,000
people had been displaced over the past few days),the U.S.
was committed to support an expanded deployment as soon as
possible. He explained that the U.S. goal is for 10,000
military personnel to be on the ground in Darfur by October
30; Snyder indicated the Pentagon would make two C-130's
available to ferry in troops.


7. (C) Reece said he understood the purpose, and noted that
Peter Stamps, an EU advisor in Addis, was helping the AU
reformulate its request for financial support from the EU's
Africa Peace Facility to meet this goal. Feith said he would
encourage EU Member States to provide in-kind logistical
support. He also stated that Solana was planning to travel
to Addis on or about October 21, right after the AU's Peace
and Security Council is expected to approve the expansion of
the AU ceasefire commission in Darfur. The EU hopes to
receive a list of requirements at the earliest opportunity.
According to DG Development Sudan Desk officer, Joaquim
Salgueiro, the Commission is prepared to fund up to 50
percent of the expanded deployment (estimated total is 180
million euros for 12 months).


8. (U) Note. EU Council conclusions on the AU mission in
Darfur state: "The Council reaffirms its commitment to
assist the AU in the planning and implementation of a
significantly expanded pro-active monitoring mission with a
sufficiently broad mandate, in order to improve the security
in Darfur." It also takes note of the GoS's commitment to
"cooperate with an enlarged AU monitoring mission with an
expanded mandate and a possible police component, as decided
by the AU." End Note.

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Genocide Designation
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9. (C) Regarding genocide, Valenzuela noted that the EU had
not been as forward-leaning as the U.S. because the
implications of making such a designation were enormous. He
welcomed the formation of a UN committee to investigate and
noted that an Italian national was invited to participate.
Regarding the European Parliament's resolution that events in
Darfur were "paramount to genocide" (reftel),Valenzuela said
that there was no legal consequence within the EU system or
any obligation to act as a result of the finding. Valenzuela
agreed with Snyder's assessment that the Sudanese were well
able to withstand a sanctions regime. He added that the main
EU sanction -- a freeze in assistance -- was already in
place.


10. (U) Note. EU Council conclusions relating to genocide
state: "The Council welcomes the recent mission and the
recommendations of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
and of the UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide
in Darfur. The Council further welcomes the decision of the
UNHCHR to increase the number of human rights monitors in
Darfur. The Council welcomes the UNSC Resolution 1564 and
the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into violations
of international humanitarian law and human rights in Darfur
by all parties, with a mandate that includes investigating
whether acts of genocide have occurred in Darfur. The
Council calls upon all parties to extend their full
cooperation to this Commission of Inquiry." End Note.

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Other issues
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11. (C) The two sides touched briefly on other issues.
Regarding the political situation in Khartoum, the EU
expressed its continuing fears of a total collapse of the
government and disintegration of the country. Both sides
agreed on the positive contributions Egypt has made and
expressed disappointment for the lack of progress made in
Abuja. Regarding the humanitarian situation, they noted
improvements including a huge expansion of national and
international NGOs operating in the region. However, they
agreed that these gains were offset by new displacements of
civilians.


12. (U) Note. The EU Council conclusion of October 11
requests that "the GoS provide information on actions taken
thus far to neutralize and disarm the Janjaweed militias and
to bring to justice perpetrators of human rights violations
and crimes against civilians." In also "notes with urgency
the need for additional humanitarian assistance and
coordination. The EU has already committed well over 300
million euros. The Council also emphasizes that humanitarian
assistance and measures to enhance security are mutually
supportive, and deserve equal attention by the international
community." End Note.

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Comment
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13. (C) All EU interlocutors were extremely thankful for
Snyder's report fresh from the field, particularly as
Henriksson was leaving within hours for Sudan as part of the
Dutch Presidency's delegation. Although Sudan plays second
fiddle to the primacy of the Great Lakes with regard to EU
interest in Africa, it still is considered an important,
developing situation. Furthermore, the EU is well aware of
the importance the U.S. attaches to Sudan. It's willingness
to financially support a stepped-up expansion of the AU
protection force in Darfur -- despite advice from its own
technical experts to go slowly -- reflects this
understanding.

(Ambassador Snyder has cleared this message.)

Minimize considered.

SCHNABEL