SUDAN: DEPUTY SECRETARY CONFERS WITH INTERNATIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 004758

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2025
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS SU KE SLM CPA
SUBJECT: SUDAN: DEPUTY SECRETARY CONFERS WITH INTERNATIONAL
PARTNERS IN NAIROBI


Classified By: D Chief of Staff Chris Padilla for reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: During a November 8 meeting with
international partners in Nairobi, Deputy Secretary Zoellick
emphasized the urgency of conveying to the various parties in
Sudan the need to regain momentum in implementing the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Speaking with representatives
from Europe, Canada and the UN ahead of his session with the
Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM),Zoellick outlined US
objectives for next steps with respect to Sudan, and his
message to the SLM rebels to unify. The international
partners present were supportive of the Deputy Secretary's
initiative and agreed that the Government of National Unity
in Khartoum needed to be demonstrably more inclusive. END
SUMMARY.



2. (U) Participants:

U.S.
Deputy Secretary Zoellick
Dr. Cindy Courville, Special Assistant to the President and
Senior Director for African Affairs, NSC
Mike Gerson, NSC
D Chief of Staff Chris Padilla
Viraj LeBailly, Embassy Notetaker

International Partners
Jim Wall, Canadian High Commissioner, Nairobi
Francesca Arato, Regional Political Section, European
Commission, Nairobi
Jean-Christophe Belliard, Africa Task Force, Council of the
European Union, Brussels
Antoine Anfre, French Deputy Head of Mission, Nairobi
Taye Zerihoun, UN Principal Deputy Special Representative of
the Secretary General
Eva Rogers, United Nations
Pekka Haavisto, European Union
Wim Wessels, Ambassador, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, The Hague
Vegard Ellefsen, Director General, Norwegian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Oslo
Kjell Hoednebo, Senior Advisor, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Oslo
Alan Goulty, Special Envoy for Sudan, United Kingdom
Gerard Prunier, Head of French Delegation, Addis Ababa

CARROTS AND STICKS FOR ACTION NOW
--------------


3. (C) Speaking with representatives from Canada, Europe,
and the UN, the Deputy Secretary highlighted the urgent need
for the parties in Sudan to hasten implementation of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the importance of the
international community sending a strong message to the
rebels that they will not succeed militarily. The Deputy
Secretary outlined the US objectives of pressing Abdul Wahid

SIPDIS
to issue a statement of respect for the cease-fire and the
Abuja process, urging the Government of National Unity (GNU)
to follow through on establishing the commissions required by
the terms of the CPA, and encouraging the SPLM in its efforts
to implement the CPA. He added that in his meeting with the
SLM later that day, he would urge unification and discuss
ways it could be accomplished.


4. (C) On unification, the Deputy Secretary explained, there
were a number of carrots the U.S. could offer: support for
understanding the provisions of the CPA; continued contact
with the U.S. if the cease-fire and negotiations are
respected; financial support for attending negotiations; and,
if progress is evident, possible targeted aid and/or an
invitation to visit the U.S. As for sticks, he would make it
clear there is no international tolerance for violence and no
scope for military success. The Deputy Secretary also
stressed the importance of addressing the potential
transition from the current AU force to a UN peacekeeping
mission, as well as the possibility of SPLM forces in
Khartoum as part of the joint integrated units provided for
in the CPA.

PARTNERS WANT TO SEE REAL UNITY
--------------


5. (C) The international partners present were
overwhelmingly supportive of the Deputy Secretary's
initiative and agreed that the GNU needed to be demonstrably
more inclusive. Haavisto cited the urgent need for some
outcome from Abuja, even if it is only a recommitment to the
cease-fire and remarked that it was necessary to hold
Khartoum to its word. The UK's Goulty countered that if the
cease-fire was strong, there would be less need to move
quickly in Abuja, but agreed on the need for a clear message
that an upsurge in violence during the seventh round would
not influence the negotiations. Goulty added that the Sudan
People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) should be reminded that
the situation in Darfur could undermine the achievements of
the CPA.


6. (C) Asked about his current assessment of the SLM, the
Deputy Secretary responded that there were three options for
the group. They could unify both politically and in their
position, they could establish a joint position without
coming together politically, or they could remain separate
but still engage in negotiations. Zerihoun advised against
focusing solely on Darfur in favor of a broader approach.
Acknowledging the possible sticks and carrots the Deputy
Secretary had outlined, Zerihoun further suggested that those

SIPDIS
present needed to move beyond the current problems which were
stalling the talks, and instead think about the outcome,
working backwards from there.


7. (C) Wessels commented that the international community
ought to urge the parties to consider possible repercussions
if they could not achieve internal peace. He asked
rhetorically whether the international community would apply
sanctions and, if so, whether they would be effective.
Wessels also expressed concern that the SLM leadership had no
ideology and no connection to the people suffering in Darfur
camps. Ellefsen commented that the CPA and Darfur could not
be separated with both requiring attention, and that for UN
forces to replace the AU, there had to be forward movement.
The Deputy Secretary responded that the transition had to be
done in such a way that the AU could be seen as having
fulfilled its mission. He also cautioned against the
perception that a UN force would be a panacea.
ROWE