UAE CONFIRMS SUPPORT FOR SUDAN, AU MISSION IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 001531 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, NEA/RA AND IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2016 TAGS: PREL KPKO SU AE SUBJECT: UAE CONFIRMS SUPPORT FOR SUDAN, AU MISSION IN DARFUR REF: A. STATE 51778 ¶B. ABU DHABI 1341 ¶C. KHARTOUM 811 Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Pol chief met with MFA Deputy Director for Arab Affairs Ahmed Besais April 17 to follow up on the issue of re-hatting the peacekeeping troops in Darfur (refs A, B). Besais told Pol chief the UAE supports the Arab League's "Khartoum Declaration" that affirms support for the African Union's mission in resolving the Darfur problem and supervising the cease-fire there. He also said that the UAEG opposed sending any other military forces to Darfur without the Sudanese Government's prior approval. "This was the decision of the (Arab League) Summit and we are committed to it," he said, holding up a copy of the "Khartoum Declaration" (ref C). Besais said the UAE leadership assured Sudanese FM Lam Akol of its support for the declaration during his UAE visit April 11-12. ¶2. (C) Neither Besais nor MFA Director for International Organizations Yacub al-Hosani (who discussed ref A with Pol chief on April 3) knew if the UN had requested the UAE's assistance with a UN peacekeeping force. Besais was, however, curious to know whether the proposed UN peacekeeping force for Darfur would consist of U.S. forces or a blend of forces. Sudanese FM Lam Akol's Visit to UAE -------------- ¶3. (U) During his two-day official visit to the UAE, Sudanese FM Lam Akol met with President Khalifa and members of the federal Cabinet to brief them on the situation in Darfur and the Abuja peace talks. The UAE leadership reportedly urged the parties to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and pledged to increase UAE private investment in the Sudan. At an April 12 press conference, Akol reportedly rejected the proposal to send UN troops to Darfur. "These troops will not be deployed as peacekeepers but rather to enforce peace," he said. UN troops would only be welcome after reaching a peace deal, he added. Akol also stated that the April 30 deadline for a deal can be met "provided that political parties involved in negotiations in Abuja are prepared to reach a settlement." ¶4. (U) During his UAE visit, Akol also spoke to approximately 300 Sudanese expatriates April 11. At that meeting, which a dozen or so ambassadors from what Akol called "brotherly countries" and Pol chief attended, the Sudanese Foreign Minister outlined his government's role in concluding the Sudan North-South peace accord as well as his government's efforts to resolve the Darfur crisis. The audience, seemingly composed of diverse Sudanese factions, alternately applauded or groaned disapprovingly as Akol made his points. During a question-and-answer period, there was near-unanimous applause when Akol affirmed that no UN troops would be dispatched to Darfur, and when he mentioned the late SPLA leader John Garang's name. Akol appeared to oblige his audience by answering most of the more than two dozen questions about the status of peace in the south, Darfur, and the Abuja talks, to name but the most prominent issues. SISON