ARAB LEAGUE'S AMRE MOUSSA ON DARFUR AND HAMAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 002133 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2016 TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM IS SU EG KPAL SUBJECT: ARAB LEAGUE'S AMRE MOUSSA ON DARFUR AND HAMAS Classified By: DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: NEA Assistant Secretary David Welch and Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa discussed regional affairs, including Syria, Iraq, Darfur, and Hamas, during a chance meeting in the airport VIP lounge on April 4. On Israel/Palestine, Moussa said the League is urging Hamas to commit to the Arab Initiative and pressed the USG not to take drastic action during the first 100 days of the Hamas government. On Sudan, Moussa said Salim Ahmed Salim, the AU's Chief Negotiator on Darfur, told him that there is a 50/50 chance of reaching an agreement on security and a framework for reconciliation by the end of April. If this succeeds, Moussa said the League will reconsider its stance. End summary. ¶2. (C) Syria and Iraq: A/S Welch sarcastically welcomed the Arab League's position on Syria, noting that, because the League routinely says one thing and does the opposite, the League's actual policy on Syria is likely to be different from its stated position (to support Damascus) and thus in harmony with U.S. objectives. On Iraq, Moussa confirmed that there is a split among the Shia and asked what the Secretary had achieved during her recent visit. A/S Welch told Moussa that the Secretary pressed for the immediate formation of a new government and greater cooperation among the key personalities. ¶3. (C) Israel/Palestine: Moussa said the League is urging Hamas to commit to the Arab Initiative and pressed the USG not to take drastic action during the first 100 days of the Hamas government. Hamas wants a ""clean"" government, Moussa observed. He also argued that the Initiative meets all parties' objectives because Hamas would be working non-violently within a framework for peace to achieve two states and would therefore implicitly recognize Israel. A/S Welch disagreed strongly, explaining that while the USG would not criticize Hamas for endorsing the Initiative, it represents less than Abu Mazen's commitment, which the international community supports. A/S Welch also said Hamas's ongoing ""subcontracting"" of its violent operations is a real concern. ¶4. (C) Moussa pressed for details on what Hamas will get in exchange for cooperation. A/S Welch said that it would take six weeks for Israel to form a platform, but noted there must be a Palestinian partner for negotiations. Without this, Israel would move to protect the interests of its citizens. When Moussa urged the USG to give Hamas a ""grace period"" -- and not suspend financial aid -- A/S Welch underlined that there would be no/no aid to a Hamas government. But humanitarian aid would continue directly and through organizations such as UNICEF and WFP, the A/S Welch said. Moussa retorted that the Arabs and Europeans would fund the government themselves. A/S Welch disagreed, predicting the Europeans will not support the government. Welch also warned that when Hamas feels it has accomplished its mission in Gaza and the West Bank, it will look to expand its influence elsewhere in the region (Egypt and Syria) because Hamas is more ""ikhwan"" (Muslim Brotherhood) than it is Palestinian. Welch noted the new Palestinian FM dreams of a map of the Middle East that does not include Israel. ¶5. (C) Sudan: Moussa said Salim Ahmed Salim, the AU's Special Envoy and Chief Negotiator for the Abuja talks, told him that there is a 50/50 chance of reaching an agreement on security and a framework for reconciliation by the end of April. If this happens, Moussa said, the League will rethink its position. ¶6. (U) A/S Welch cleared this cable. RICCIARDONE