A/S FRAZER TALKS SOMALIA AND DARFUR WITH IGAD

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 001741 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO AU UN SU SO ET SUBJECT: A/S FRAZER TALKS SOMALIA AND DARFUR WITH IGAD AMBASSADORS ¶1. (SBU) Summary. A/S Frazer met June 23 with Ethiopia-based representatives of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states. The Kenyan and Somali Ambassadors argued that membership in the International Somalia Contact Group (SCG) should have been cast a bit wider to include IGAD member states. Ethiopia's Ambassador to the AU added that the distinction between member and observer was "awkward." Some reps questioned the real impact of the arms embargo, while the Somali Ambassador said it was a roadblock to the TFG's legitimacy. With regard to Darfur, the Sudanese Ambassador said the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) was incomplete because some parties had refused to sign it and intimated the GOS had compromised enough on the matter. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) A/S Frazer met June 23 with Ambassadors from IGAD member states. Participants included Kenyan Ambassador Franklin Esipila, Sudanese Ambassador Abuzeid El-Hassan, Djiboutian Ambassador Ibrahim Kamil, TFG Ambassador Abdikarin Farah, Ugandan Charge Idul Amoko, and Ethiopia's Ambassador to the African Union Sahilework Zewdie. United Kingdom Charge Deborah Fisher, UK Special Envoy for Darfur Rod Pullen, and Spanish Ambassador Carmen de la Pena Coruera also participated. Frazer was accompanied by Charge Vicki Huddleston, A/DCM Brian Moran, Special Assistant Kendra Gaither, Eritrea and Somalia Desk Officer Nole Garey, CJTF-HOA Commander Rear Admiral Richard Hunt, Lt. Commander Michael Sowa, Political/Economic Counselor and poloff. SOMALIA: EXPAND SCG, SUPPORT TFG AND LIFT ARMS EMBARGO -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) A/S Frazer explained that the SCG was formed with the intention of sharing information and coordinating policy on Somklia. Frazer emphasized the SCG was not meant to replace IGAD, but rather to build consensus on how to preserve regional stability, support the TFG, address humanitarian assistance needs and combat terrorism. TFG Ambassador Farah questioned the decision not to include any IGAD states in the SCG, arguing that the TFG was the "baby" of IGAD. Kenyan Ambassador Esipila concurred with Farah and went on to criticize the distinction between SCG member and observer entities. It was a mistake in his opinion to designate observers as it gave the impression the AU, IGAD were "fence sitters" and not able to take part in the decision-making process. Ethiopia's Ambassador to the AU Sahilework noted that the AU's observer label was "awkward" for the organization. Frazer said that there was no substantial difference between member and observer entities and that all stakeholders were treated equally. She nonetheless indicated that she would recommend that the formal distinction between observers and members be dropped before the next SCG meeting in Sweden. ¶4. (SBU) Sudanese Ambassador Abuzeid El-Hassan asked A/S Frazer about the USG view on the agreement reached between the TFG and UIC. Frazer noted that while she did not have all of the details, the agreement was a step in the right direction. The international community had called on the TFG and UIC to open a dialogue, and in Khartoum the process had begun. Frazer told the group she looked forward to the sides reconvening on July 15 and reiterated the USG's support of the TFG. Ambassador Farah told Frazer that America's commitment to Somalia had never been questioned by the Somali people. He noted that Somalis remembered the U.S. loss of life in 1993 and respected the U.S.' sacrifice. Now the U.S. must again take the lead role in role in resolving the current conflict, he said. ¶5. (SBU) Kenyan Ambassador Esipila stated that the existing arms embargo limited the effectiveness and overall legitimacy of the TFG. He added there were no mechanisms in place to enforce the embargo. Farah contended that Somalia has more weapons than most other countries, but "they happen to be in the wrong hands." He told Frazer most Somalis see the embargo as irrelevant because the country is awash in arms. With the longest coast in Africa, an arms embargo was impossible to enforce. Farah asked that the USG reconsider the embargo. Frazer explained that the U.S. was considering options with regard to the embargo and reiterated her dedication to strengthening the TFG. ¶6. (SBU) Ambassador Carmen de la Pena Coruera asked Frazer ADDIS ABAB 00001741 002 OF 002 how the SCG would approach humanitarian assistance. Ambassador Farah added that most assistance has been mistakenly focused in Mogadishu where "less than one percent" of the population live and recommended that the international community and neighboring countries focus on areas of greater need within the country. Frazer indicated that the SCG was working diligently to mobilize humanitarian assistance for the country. She noted that aid was still flowing to Mogadishu and there were signs from the UIC that it would not impede assistance. The issue, Frazer explained, was not access, but rather whether or not the money and goods would keep flowing to the country. DARFUR: GOS STANCE ON UN MISSION DISAPPOINTING -------------- - ¶7. (SBU) Sudanese Ambassador El-Hassan said the DPA was incomplete because some parties had refused to sign it. He added that durable peace was only possible if all parties compromised and that pressure to do so was required. El-Hassan said, "we have negotiated enough." UK Special Envoy for Darfur Rod Pullen told El-Hassan that the DPA has an "extraordinary" amount of international support and credited the GOS for its commitment. Pullen said that action was necessary to show the people in the region how they will benefit, increase safety and security, and begin the process of rebuilding lives. Frazer explained that inclusiveness was key to producing an on-going productive dialogue and added that non-signatories to the DPA should be pressured or provided incentives to become part of the process. Frazer said she was disappointed with recent GOS statements regarding the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to UN mission transition as well as United Nations Undersecretary General Jean-Marie Guehenno's decision to move the transition from the originally planned September 2006 to January 2007. She questioned how the gap would be filled as AMIS soldiers' pay was currently three months in arrears. HUDDLESTON