Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ADDISABABA1741
2006-06-26 07:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:  

A/S FRAZER TALKS SOMALIA AND DARFUR WITH IGAD

Tags:  PREL KPKO AU UN SU SO ET 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0093
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DE RUEHDS #1741/01 1770729
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 260729Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1288
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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


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