CHAD: MEETING WITH NEW FOREIGN MINISTER

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 001262

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CD PREL PREF KUNR
SUBJECT: CHAD: MEETING WITH NEW FOREIGN MINISTER

REF: a) SECSTATE 138991


1. (SBU) Summary: In a wide-ranging meeting with the
newly installed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Allam-mi
Ahmad (former diplomatic advisor to the President),the
Minister commented on the current state of the Darfur
peace process and the need for the rebel movements to
"improve representivity." He also reiterated the AU
position on Security Council reform. In view of
President Deby's anticipated travel to the opening of
the UN General Assembly, Minister Ahmad expressed the
hope that President Deby might be received in
Washington. He also raised the possibility of a
meeting between President Deby and Secretary Rice
during the UNGA. End summary.

U.S./Chad relations
--------------

2. (SBU) Ambassador Wall met with newly-installed
Minister of Foreign Affairs Allam-mi Ahmad August 15,

2005. Minister Ahmad apologized for moving the
meeting earlier, explaining that he was receiving a
large, high-level delegation from the Government of
Sudan later in the day. In response to Ambassador
Wall's question concerning his priorities on assuming
his position, Minister Ahmad expressed hope of working
on the Chad/U.S. bilateral relationship. In that
context, he noted that U.S.engagement in Chad had been
stronger in previous years. He segued into a
discussion of President Deby's anticipated visit to New
York for the opening of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
He pointed out that it was a costly trip to make just
for that event. He expressed the hope that there might
be a possibility of President Deby being received in
Washington. He commented "we have an image problem in
your country - we hope we can help this." In a
subsequent conversation he raised as well the
possibility of a meeting between President Deby and
Secretary Rice during the UNGA.

SIPDIS

Darfur
--------------

3. (SBU) The Ambassador mentioned Darfur as an
important priority, and Minister Ahmad turned to that
issue with alacrity. He mentioned that Konare had been
in N'djamena three or four times, most recently on
August 10. He emphasized that it was important to
improve the "representivity" of the rebel groups. He
commented that they were divided on the ground. He
noted that the GOC was urged to "improve governance."
The same thing could be said about the Darfur groups.
Concerning a meeting of all of the Darfur rebel groups,
he mused whether this should not be handled as in the
case of Burundi or Congo - i.e., by opening the
political dialogue to all sectors (comment: including
civil society). He noted, however, that the GOS
naturally preferred to have the rebel movements divided
and weak.


4. (SBU) Turning to the negotiations in Nigeria, he
mentioned that these were expensive to hold,
particularly given the fact that delegations (already
large) expanded with wives, girlfriends, etc. He
cautioned that such meetings should not be held at the
Sheraton in Abuja - rather they should be held
somewhere less expensive (with fewer night clubs.)


5. (SBU) The Ambassador reiterated that Darfur was a
priority and that the USG wanted to work with the GOC
on this issue. He also mentioned the possibility of a
visit by Roger Winter, new Special Envoy for Sudan.
Minister Ahmad welcomed the possibility, reminding the
Ambassador that he had known Winter for some time and
had worked with him. He acknowledged that Winter "had
a big influence on the movements."

UN Reform
--------------

6. (SBU) Turning to UN reform (reftel),the Ambassador
stressed the importance of improving the effectiveness
and efficiency of the UN before UN Security Council
reform. Minister Ahmad stated that Chad shared the AU
position agreed at the last AU meeting in Addis Ababa:
two permanent seats with a veto. He noted that the
needs of the African continent - the only continent

(according to him) without permanent representation on
the Security Council at this time - should not be
confused with those of the G-4. That being said, he
pointed out that African nations by and large did not
have the means or the capacity to categorically oppose
what the "great powers" want and that Africa's lack of
a voice and veto on the Security Council might well
continue for some time to come.


7. (SBU) In closing, Minister Ahmad expressed an
interest in going to Washington to meet with
counterparts after the UNGA; Ambassador Wall
volunteered to work with him on such a trip.

Comment
--------------


8. Minister Ahmad is the President's former diplomatic
advisor and also a former Ambassador to France. His
appointment as Foreign Minister brings to the fore a
key GOC interlocutor on Darfur and a savvy and well-
connected diplomat. We will have more to say about
possible travel to New York or Washington in other
communications.


9. Khartoum minimize considered.

WALL


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