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