SOMALIA: ARAB LEAGUE BRINGS SOMALI TRANSITIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CAIRO 003966 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/24/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER EFIN MOPS EG SM SUBJECT: SOMALIA: ARAB LEAGUE BRINGS SOMALI TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT AND ISLAMIC COURTS TOGETHER FOR PEACE TALKS REF: A. KHARTOUM 1477 ¶B. CAIRO 3849 ¶C. CAIRO 3819 ¶D. 6/23/06 HEGADORN-NEA EMAIL Classified by ECPO Counselor Catherine Hill-Herndon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. Senior Arab League contacts Samir Hosni and Talal Elamine briefed poloff June 25 on outcomes of the Khartoum meeting of the Arab League's Somalia Committee with key Somali political leaders. In addition to providing Arabic texts of the June 22 Khartoum Communique (translations below),Hosni confirmed plans to hold a second round of talks July 15 in Khartoum between Transitional Federal Government (TFG) leaders and representatives of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). Hosni welcomed coordination with the U.S. and others, noting that League representatives would brief Nairobi-based diplomats on the AL's mediation efforts soon. Hosni also welcomed inclusion of an Arab role in future meetings of the U.S.-led Somalia Contact Group. End summary. ¶2. (C) Arab League Secretariat African Affairs Office Director Samir Hosny provided poloff June 25 with a readout of the Khartoum ministerial of the League's Somalia Committee, joined by Somali TFG leaders and representatives of the UIC. Hosni provided additional details to what AL Secretariat staffer Talal Elamine shared June 23 (ref D) SIPDIS regarding a seven-point communique (text at paragraph five) signed by TFG and UIC leaders. Hosni described the atmospherics of the meeting as positive, productive, and non-confrontational. While the UIC reps (Deputy UIC Chairman Dr. Mohammed Ali Ibrahim plus ten - namelist below) did not represent hard-line elements of the UIC, Hosni said, their aim was clearly to establish a role for the UIC within the TFG. Hosni said the UIC wants to revisit parts of the Constitution (NFI) and reform certain TFG institutions (NFI). In general, the UIC does not want to abandon the IGAD-led peace process which established the TFG in 2004, he noted, and agreed to this point in the final communique. The UIC is opposed to a foreign troop presence, Hosni said, and is focused on getting "warlords" out of the TFG. Likewise, he added, the UIC is willing to negotiate disarmament of its militias, and is opposed to lifting the UN arms embargo. Hosni shared a copy of the UIC demands presented to the Arab League Secretariat at the start of the talks (text at paragraph six). ¶3. (C) Asked about next steps for the Arab League and the Somali political forces, Hosni noted that the Arab League's Somalia Committee would meet again with key Somali political forces July 15 in Khartoum under the auspices of League President Sudan. Hosni stated that the League was also consulting with member states and Somali groups on the possibility of granting observer status to the U.S., AU, IGAD, and others for future talks. In this spirit, Hosni said the AL's Somalia peace process envoy (Salim Al Khusseibi) would offer Nairobi-based diplomats a readout of the June 22 meeting sometime during the week of June 25, including Ethiopian and Kenyan diplomats. This move, he shared, was intended to "calm them (i.e., front-line states)," and to show them that "their interests in Somalia are being taken into consideration" by the League. ¶4. (C) On the theme of coordinating international diplomatic efforts on Somalia, Hosni welcomed efforts to include an Arab role in the international Contact Group on Somalia, and proposed that Sweden consider hosting the next Contact Group meeting early enough to allow Arab and Arab League experts to participate, prior to the League's July 15 Somalia meeting. Hosni concluded by calling for a "common agenda" with the U.S., and pressed for Europe and the U.S. to focus on humanitarian assistance for Somalia. We must all work together, he added, to "isolate the radical elements" in Somalia and eventually disarm the militants. Hosni believed that the Arab League mediation effort would succeed in bringing political stability to southern Somalia, and an accomodation between the TFG and the UIC. Still, he added, these talks will have to be followed by political talks with Somaliland leaders and later, Puntland. ¶5. (U) Unofficial embassy translation of June 22 Arab League-sponsored Somalia talks communique: Within the framework of implementing the Khartoum summit resolution 345 of March 29, 2006 regarding support to Somalia, and based on the initiative and generous invitation of the President of Sudan (current Arab League Summit President),the Arab League ministerial committee assigned to follow the situation in Somalia met under the chairmanship of His Excellency President Omar Al-Bashir. His Excellency CAIRO 00003966 002 OF 003 President Abdullah Youssef of Somalia, the Secretary General of the Arab League, and ministers and representatives of member states attended. Through intensive consultations with the Somali government and the Union of Islamic Courts, the Committee reached a number of elements that can be built upon to create common ground. And, with the participation and auspices of the Committee on Somalia, the first session of the dialogue between the two parties was held, during which they expressed determination to achieve a settlement that would preserve the unity, sovereignty, and territorial security of Somalia and enable the Somalis to rebuild the State institutions and proceed with the reconstruction and rebuilding process. Within this context, agreement was reached on the following (7) principles: - Recognition of the legitimacy of the current Somali transitional government. - Recognition of the "reality" of the Union of Islamic Courts. - Continue dialogue and talks without prior conditions within the framework of mutual recognition. - Underline the necessity of putting war criminals on trial. - Adhere to a halt to media and military campaigns (against one another). - Address a joint peace appeal. - Conduct a dialogue on pending security and political issues, and add this to the agenda of upcoming sessions and explore the possibility of forming technical committees to discuss such issues and submit proposals. Agreement was reached to continue the talks and hold the next round in Khartoum on July 15, 2006. The Committee urged the international community to provide support quickly to the Somali people and stressed that the Arab countries would actively contribute to the restoration of security and stability in Somalia, to reconstruction and rebuilding efforts, and would extend urgent humanitarian assistance. The Committee thanked the Republic of Sudan for its initiative on calling for and hosting a meeting of the Arab League's Committee on Somalia. Signed by: Abdallah El-Sheikh Ismail, Foreign Minister, Republic of Somalia Dr. Mohamed Ali Ibrahim, Head of the UIC Delegation, Somalia Witnessed by: Amre Moussa, Secretary General of the Arab League Lam Akol, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Sudan End text. ¶6. (U) Unofficial embassy translation of UIC paper. Delivered by: Sheikh Sharif El-Sheikh Ahmed, Head of the Union of Islamic Courts (Title) "Some Negotiation Axes" The recent Somali rebellion under the UIC and various society sects see the following points as axes for negotiations: - Opposite of what is present in the global, Arab, and Islamic scenes, the Somali government described the recent rebellion as a "terrorist" action in order to undermine what is left of the Somalis and their property. Therefore, we urge the government to formally apologize to its people and to the rebellion in order to rebuild confidence. - The Parliament,s recent decision to bring foreign troops is unacceptable because the country does not need such troops after resolving the problem of security in Mogadishu and its vicinity. From our side, we promise to restore security and stability in any region of Somalia where there is instability. Therefore, we urgently demand the cancellation of this decision (on foreign troops). - In light of the size and nature of the recent changes in CAIRO 00003966 003 OF 003 the country, it is imperative that all political formations and issued documents, as well as the various laws, resolutions, and agreements based upon them, should be reviewed. - Issue a general peace declaration whereby all Somalis would live peacefully in all provinces. Ban any military activity, but without fettering the rebellion in its campaign to hound the warlords who are trying to create unrest and sectarian strife in certain areas. - Bring war criminals to justice before a special court and in cooperation with the international and regional community. - Do not lift the arms embargo. Signed by: Dr. Mohamed Ali Ibrahim, Chairman of the UIC delegation End text. ¶7. (U) Name list of UIC delegation to June 21-22 Khartoum talks. Dr. Mohamed Ali Ibrahim, Chairman Sheikh Hussein Mahmoud Jimaala, Vice Chairman Taher Mahmoud Jeeli, Secretary Sheikh Ali Abdallah Ahmed, Secretary Sheikh Youssef Ali Einti, Member Sheikh Beshir Ado Alsso, Member Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Abdallah, Member Prof. Omar Adam Kadi, Member Sheikh Ahmed Balli Hassan, Member Mr. Abdel Qader Mu,allem Jeedi, Member End UIC participant list. RICCIARDONE