SUDAN: EGYPT PRESSING HARD TO RECONCILE POSITIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 001413 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER UNSC EG SU SUBJECT: SUDAN: EGYPT PRESSING HARD TO RECONCILE POSITIONS AHEAD OF KEY MARCH 10 AFRICAN UNION MEETING REF: A. STATE 36548 ¶B. CAIRO 1299 (NOTAL) ¶C. CAIRO 970 (NOTAL) Classified by ECPO Minister Counselor Michael Corbin for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Following up on the Ambassador's discussions with senior Presidential Advisor Soliman Awad (ref B),post delivered reftel demarche March 7 to MFA Assistant Minister for African Affairs Mohamed Higazy, stressing the importance of an African Union endorsement of a transition from the AU's Mission in Darfur to a UN peacekeeping operation. Higazy, who will attend the AU Peace and Security Commission meeting March 10 in Addis as an observer (Egypt becomes a PSC member March 12),said he understood USG positions clearly - having just returned from Washington for bilateral consultations at the NSC and State. Egypt understands the positions of all the key parties, he said, and is working hard to find common ground among among those parties, to help avoid a breakdown in international efforts to resolve the Darfur crisis. ¶2. (C) Higazy pointed to an expected summit meeting in Egypt March 8 between President Mubarak, Libyan leader Qadhafi, and Sudanese President Bashir and said the outcome of that meeting was crucial for next steps at the AU. Higazy was relatively optimistic that Bashir could be convinced by President Mubarak of a compromise formula which he predicted would protect Sudanese sovereignty, maintain the dignity of the African Union, and address the political and funding necessities of western parties. Higazy was unable to share details of any potential formulas for resolving the impasse being floated among the Arab and African leaders. Post will seek a readout of the summit meeting as early as possible. RICCIARDONE