Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASMARA354
2006-04-19 12:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:  

ERITREA TO HOST EASTERN FRONT NEGOTIATIONS

Tags:  PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0029
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAE #0354/01 1091234
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 191234Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8087
INFO RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0066
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 5853
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1121
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4548
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1291
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0171
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 0186
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 0978
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0292
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0494
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000354 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU
SUBJECT: ERITREA TO HOST EASTERN FRONT NEGOTIATIONS

REF: KHARTOUM 00923

CLASSIFIED BY: AMB Scott H. DeLisi, for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000354

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU
SUBJECT: ERITREA TO HOST EASTERN FRONT NEGOTIATIONS

REF: KHARTOUM 00923

CLASSIFIED BY: AMB Scott H. DeLisi, for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: With the announcement that Eritrea
will host talks between the Eastern Front and Sudan's
Government of National Unity, speculation has risen
on whether we may finally see a resolution to
instability in eastern Sudan. An Egyptian Diplomat
provided additional information on the recent
Eritrean delegation visit to Khartoum, preconditions
for possible negotiations in Eritrea and his views on
why the GNU finally agreed to Eritrea as a mediator.
End Summary.


2. (C) After the Sudanese government's public
confirmation that Eritrea had been asked to host
negotiations between the Government of National Unity
(GNU) and the Eastern Front, ConOff met with Egyptian
DCM Hussein El Sayed Mohamed El Shaar (protect) to
discuss the recent Eritrean visit to Khartoum and why
the GNU finally agreed to Eritrea as a mediator after
a number of failed attempts by the Libyans to get the
GNU and Eastern Front to the negotiating table.


3. (C) The Eritrean Delegation arrived in Khartoum on
April 10, after considerable back channeling by
Rashaida Free Lions (RFL) Leader Mabruuk Mubarak
Salim, Sudanese VP Ali Osman Taha and Eritrean Sudan
Watcher Abdallah Jabir over the past few weeks,
Hussein stated. During the visit which lasted three
(3) days, the Eritreans met with the GNU Joint
Commission and other senior Sudanese officials
including Nafie al Nafie, and were asked to take a
leading role in resolving the problems in eastern
Sudan as well as in Darfur (see reftel). It was
explained to ConOff that SPLM National Assembly Chair
Yassir Arman would come to Asmara in the coming week
and accompany Abdallah Jabir to Abuja to put pressure
on the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and Justice
and Equality Movement (JEM).


4. (C) Hussein claims that the GNU Joint Commission
also provided the Eritrean delegation a four (4)
point "Joint Vision" for negotiations:

-- the GNU and GSE would need to meet prior to the
commencement of negotiations to establish preparatory

measures focused on ensuring there was no negative
propaganda or media coverage of the negotiations
(Note: This should be easy in Eritrea where there is
no free press and only two foreign journalists. End
note.) Additionally, the GNU and GSE will need to
agree to a cessation of hostilities around their
joint border.

-- Eritrea would host negotiations as soon as
possible, even as early as within the next two weeks
Hussein believes the GSE will probably host the talks
outside of Asmara, possibly in Keren.

-- The parties to negotiations would be the Eastern
Front and GNU. DUP Leader Mirghani would not/not be
apart of negotiations and his call for an internal
eastern conference would not be considered. (When
asked whether the Eastern Front included the JEM,
Hussein did not know at this time, however in past
discussions with Beja and Rashaida representatives in
Asmara, it was clear that the JEM have already had
their day in Abuja and would not be invited to take
part in these negotiations.

-- the GSE will work with both sides to decide which
international observers would be invited to be
present.


5. (C) When asked why the GNU has finally agreed to
accept Eritrea as a venue and mediator for
negotiations on eastern Sudan, Hussein said he
believes there are two reasons. First, he thinks that
pressure from the international community (mainly the
Norwegians and U.S.) to resolve problems in the east,
before they get worse was an important factor. In
particular, he feels that recent senior Norwegian
visits, as well as those of a number of U.S.
officials to the region, has helped to push the GNU
into accepting negotiations and a mediator that the
Eastern Front can agree to. Additionally, he
believes that recent tensions and clashes in eastern
Sudan since the January incident around Hamesh Koreib
have raised enough concern over the potential
internationalization of the eastern issue to goad the
GNU into action.


6. (C) Comment: While there have been a number of
attempts over the past eight months to get the GNU
and Eastern Front to the negotiating table in Tripoli
all have failed for a variety of reasons. Recent
fighting in the east, however, has elevated the level
of the GSE's concern and may have spurred the GSE to
take a more constructive stance with the GNU at a
time when, as Hussein suggests, the GNU may also have
been more receptive to negotiations going forward.
Unsurprisingly, the Egyptians tend to be more
involved and interested in Sudan issues than most
diplomatic missions here and usually have good access
to information from both the Eritrean and Sudanese
sides. That said, post is skeptical of negotiations
beginning within the next two weeks given logistical
and organizational requirements to get them off the
ground. Post will follow-up further with the Eastern
Front, the GSE and the Norwegians to get a clearer
picture of the next steps and of whether there any
ways the USG might, along with other partners such as
Norway, facilitate this effort.

DELISI