Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ABUDHABI1531
2006-04-17 13:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

UAE CONFIRMS SUPPORT FOR SUDAN, AU MISSION IN

Tags:  PREL KPKO SU AE 
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VZCZCXRO5212
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHAD #1531 1071312
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 171312Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4591
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 6040
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).

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