GSE CONFIRMS ROLE IN EASTERN FRONT TALKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000381 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC ETTC ER SU SUBJECT: GSE CONFIRMS ROLE IN EASTERN FRONT TALKS REF: KHARTOUM 00952 CLASSIFIED BY: AMB Scott H. DeLisi, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: On April 24, 2006 Ambassador DeLisi met with PFDJ Political Advisor Yemane Ghebreab to discuss recent news that Eritrea would host negotiations between the Eastern Front and the Government of National Unity (GNU). Ghebreab explained that during his recent visit to Khartoum, the GSE was asked to take a leading role in the Eastern Front negotiations and nothing to date has changed. Ghebreab acknowledged that there were many issues to resolve, including the role/identity of observers and whether the Libyans would be involved in the process. However he remained hopeful that negotiations could start as soon as possible in May. For the GSE, this is a chance to show themselves as an important, and constructive, player on Sudan and on this issue at least, we believe that they will try to be exactly that. End Summary. ¶2. (C) In a meeting on April 24, PFDJ Political Advisor Yemane Ghebreab explained to Ambassador DeLisi that during his recent visit to Khartoum he was surprised by the different tone expressed by the Government of National Unity (GNU). The GNU seemed willing to accept a broader Eritrean role on a number of issues and specifically requested EritreaQs assistance as a mediator with the Eastern Front. Ghebreab confirmed that the GNU had asked for Eritrea not only to play a leading role in the eastern Sudan negotiations but to play a larger role in the Darfur talks. ¶3. (C) Ambassador DeLisi asked whether the Eritreans were ready to host negotiations and what outstanding issues remained. Ghebreab replied that the GSE was willing and ready to host negotiations, but much work still needed to be done. He was clear that the Eritreans had not yet done a great deal of planning but he was confident they would be ready when the time came. Although he was unable to provide a date for negotiations, it seemed clear that they would not begin in early May as initially speculated. He added that the GSE was not interested in a Qbig showQ, and instead would be hosting a low-key, no-frills event. ¶4. (C) Ghebreab emphasized that the GSE would like these negotiations to be short and to the point. Although some of the issues in the east mirror those addressed in the CPA and in the Darfur talks, Ghebreab did not believe that the political dynamic in the east was nearly as complex. As a result, he was hopeful that negotiations could be completed quickly and, with a tightly focused mediation, that they could avoid the problems that have beset the Abuja talks. ¶5. (C) Ghebreab told the Ambassador that the GSE supported having observers attend the talks, but they did not want attendance on the scale seen in Abuja or Naivasha. He argued that a small number of observers, as well as a small number of delegates from both sides, will be more constructive and he has stressed this point to both the GNU and Chairman of the Eastern Front Musa Muhammed Ahmed. When asked about a role for Libya, Ghebreab noted that this too is still under consideration. He did not rule out the possibility, observing that both the GNU and the Eastern Front had certain equities with the Libyans. However, he said that on both the question of observers and on the Libyan role, the GNU had left the decision to the Eritreans, and Ghebreab made it clear that the GSE saw this as their decision to make, although it was equally clear that they would do so carefully after consultation with both the GNU and the Eastern Front. ¶6. (C) When asked about whether the GNU had raised any concerns about the GSEQs role in light of the April 11 attacks near Hamesh Koreib (see reftel), Ghebreab said that he had heard nothing that would suggest any GNU concerns about its request for Eritrean involvement in eastern Sudan. In fact, he continued, the GNU had followed through on the commitment it had made to the Eritreans during the Khartoum talks to have the GSE play a greater role in Abuja. He confirmed that PFDJ Sudan Watcher Abdallah Jabir had in fact been picked up in Asmara by a Sudanese Presidential plan on April 20 and flown to Khartoum and then on to Abuja with the GNU delegation. ¶7. (C) Ghebreab acknowledged that the GSE remains in close contact with the Norwegian Government with which it has built a strong partnership on Sudan issues. The Ambassador noted that we too have been working closely with Norway on these issues and that we applaud the GSEQs efforts to be a constructive actor. In response to the AmbassadorQs query, Ghebreab said that the GSE had not asked Norway for any assistance with the negotiations - yet. Noting that the GSE still had to work through various issues internally and with the parties, he indicated that any request right now would be premature. He did, however, comment that, given the GSEQs intention to keep the negotiations low-profile and to avoid a circus-like atmosphere, financial support at least should not require major contributions. Ambassador noted that he would be happy to convey to Washington any GSE thoughts on how the USG could assist with the process and Ghebreab promised to let us know the GSEQs thinking once it clarified a bit more. ¶8. (C) Comment: Ghebreab not only confirmed the GSEQs role as mediator for the eastern negotiations but he equally conveyed to us the sense that the GSE sees this as a major development for Eritrea and its role in the Sudan peace process. The GSE would clearly love to deliver a success to demonstrate to its regional neighbors and the broader international community that Eritrea is a Qplayer.Q The GSE also understands that a rapprochement with Sudan has implications for regional position and by extension its relative strength in the border dispute with Ethiopia. Finally, we believe that the GSE is also keenly aware that a constructive Eritrean role on Sudan could also have impact on EritreaQs relations with other international actors - a point Ghebreab tacitly conceded in his conversation with the Ambassador. All in all, this is a high stakes undertaking for the GSE on a broader regional stage; although positive results are far from guaranteed, we believe that we will see a concerted GSE effort to make it happen. End Comment. DELISI