SUDAN: NATO TECHNICAL AND LOGISTICAL ASSISTANCE

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. Visit Embassy Cairo's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/cairo You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. GRAY