Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ALGIERS409
2006-03-12 18:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES SUDAN WITH FOREIGN MINISTER
how-toVZCZCXRO6099 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHAS #0409 0711816 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121816Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0442 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0746 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0005 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0320
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000409
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2016
TAGS: PREL SU AG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES SUDAN WITH FOREIGN MINISTER
BEDJAOUI
REF: STATE 34709
Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman, Reason 1.4 (b) (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ALGIERS 000409
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2016
TAGS: PREL SU AG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES SUDAN WITH FOREIGN MINISTER
BEDJAOUI
REF: STATE 34709
Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman, Reason 1.4 (b) (d)
1. (C) During a wide-ranging discussion March 5 with Foreign
Minister Bedjaoui, Ambassador delivered reftel points for
participants in the Arab League preparatory ministerial
(discussion of Hamas reported septel). After reviewing
points on Iraq and Syria, Ambassador turned to Sudan, noting
that the U.S. sought strong African leadership of AMIS, but
re-hatted as a UN PKO. Bedjaoui said Algeria had been
studying this issue since the AU summit. The AU, he said,
had men and arms, but no money for an expanded operation. He
noted there was no need for the AU to take the lead, since
the Security Council had the authority to transform the
mission. Algeria had asked Sudanese President Bashir to make
progress on Darfur before the next AU summit in July.
2. (C) In response to the Ambassador's comment that the U.S.
was seeking additional funds to finance AMIS, Bedjaoui said
the AU was ready to send more troops but the UN would have to
pay for them. A combined UN/AU operation would allow
Khartoum to save face while addressing the crisis in Darfur.
3. (C) Turning to Sudan's scheduled assumption of the Arab
League presidency at the Arab summit at the end of March,
Ambassador noted that the AU had understood the problems
associated with having Sudan as its president and had
selected Congo Brazzaville instead. We urged the Arabs to
consider following the AU's example and find another country
to serve as Arab League president. Bedjaoui indicated that
it would be very difficult to change the Arab League's
procedures, which unlike the AU were based on a scheduled
rotation. Bedjaoui added that the U.S. objected to Sudan
assuming the Arab League presidency due to Darfur, but
Algeria felt that becoming Arab League president would help
Sudan's leadership understand what they had to do. Sudan's
leaders were close to the Saudis, he commented, so the Saudis
could help them. Darfur was a terrible situation which
should be handled by the UNSC.
ERDMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2016
TAGS: PREL SU AG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES SUDAN WITH FOREIGN MINISTER
BEDJAOUI
REF: STATE 34709
Classified By: Ambassador Richard W. Erdman, Reason 1.4 (b) (d)
1. (C) During a wide-ranging discussion March 5 with Foreign
Minister Bedjaoui, Ambassador delivered reftel points for
participants in the Arab League preparatory ministerial
(discussion of Hamas reported septel). After reviewing
points on Iraq and Syria, Ambassador turned to Sudan, noting
that the U.S. sought strong African leadership of AMIS, but
re-hatted as a UN PKO. Bedjaoui said Algeria had been
studying this issue since the AU summit. The AU, he said,
had men and arms, but no money for an expanded operation. He
noted there was no need for the AU to take the lead, since
the Security Council had the authority to transform the
mission. Algeria had asked Sudanese President Bashir to make
progress on Darfur before the next AU summit in July.
2. (C) In response to the Ambassador's comment that the U.S.
was seeking additional funds to finance AMIS, Bedjaoui said
the AU was ready to send more troops but the UN would have to
pay for them. A combined UN/AU operation would allow
Khartoum to save face while addressing the crisis in Darfur.
3. (C) Turning to Sudan's scheduled assumption of the Arab
League presidency at the Arab summit at the end of March,
Ambassador noted that the AU had understood the problems
associated with having Sudan as its president and had
selected Congo Brazzaville instead. We urged the Arabs to
consider following the AU's example and find another country
to serve as Arab League president. Bedjaoui indicated that
it would be very difficult to change the Arab League's
procedures, which unlike the AU were based on a scheduled
rotation. Bedjaoui added that the U.S. objected to Sudan
assuming the Arab League presidency due to Darfur, but
Algeria felt that becoming Arab League president would help
Sudan's leadership understand what they had to do. Sudan's
leaders were close to the Saudis, he commented, so the Saudis
could help them. Darfur was a terrible situation which
should be handled by the UNSC.
ERDMAN