Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05CAIRO3650
2005-05-12 15:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

SUDAN: NATO TECHNICAL AND LOGISTICAL ASSISTANCE

Tags:  PREL PGOV MOPS PHUM EG SU 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003650 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS PHUM EG SU
SUBJECT: SUDAN: NATO TECHNICAL AND LOGISTICAL ASSISTANCE
FOR DARFUR NOT A PROBLEM FOR EGYPT

REF: STATE 88194

Classified by ECPO Political Officer Chris Hegadorn for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 003650

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS PHUM EG SU
SUBJECT: SUDAN: NATO TECHNICAL AND LOGISTICAL ASSISTANCE
FOR DARFUR NOT A PROBLEM FOR EGYPT

REF: STATE 88194

Classified by ECPO Political Officer Chris Hegadorn for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Poloff met May 12 with MFA Sudan Affairs Deputy
Office Director Abdelmoneim Omar to press the GOE to support
African Union (AU) Chairman Konare's recent appeal to NATO
for provision of technical and logistical assistance for the
AU Mission in Darfur, Sudan. Omar said that Egypt supported
Konare's request for technical assistance from NATO but
objected to any "foreign military intervention" in Darfur.
The provision of logistical and technical assistance to the
AU - as requested by Konare and supported publicly by the
Sudanese government - was not objectionable to Egypt, Omar
said. Press reports saying Egypt objected to any NATO
involvement "are simply wrong," he added. Sharing reftel
talking points as an aide memoire, poloff stressed that the
U.S. believes NATO has important contributions to make to the
AU mission in Darfur. Support from Egypt and other Arab
states for NATO's provision of such assistance would be
welcomed by the USG. Omar stated that he would deliver the
demarche promptly to the office of the Foreign Minister.


2. (C) During the meeting, Omar confirmed that the venue of
the AU's Darfur Quintet summit, consisting of the leaders of
Sudan, Egypt, Libya, Chad, and Nigeria had changed from Sharm
El Sheikh, Egypt to Tripoli, Libya. The meeting would be
held Monday, May 16, although Omar said no decision has been
made yet on whether President Mubarak would attend or if he
would be represented by Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
Asked the reason for the last-minute venue switch, Omar
conceded that the Darfur rebel groups had threatened not to
participate unless the meeting was held in Libya. The
unusual step of inviting rebel leaders to attend such a
summit, Omar speculated, was critical in reaching agreement
on dates for restarting political and security negotiations
within the Abuja peace track. While the AU Chairman would be
in Brussels on the day of the meeting, Omar said, the AU
would be represented, as would the Arab League by Secretary
General Amre Moussa.


3. (U) Minimize considered.


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GRAY