EGYPT ON CONTINUING CHALLENGES TO AMIS TRANSITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 004829 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/05/2016 TAGS: PREL PHUM UN SU EG SUBJECT: EGYPT ON CONTINUING CHALLENGES TO AMIS TRANSITION TO THE UN REF: A. STATE 124400 ¶B. STATE 123408 Classified by ECPO Counselor Catherine Hill-Herndon for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) MFA's Sudan Department Director Ambassador Maasoum Marzouk told poloff August 3 that ongoing references to Chapter VII and the International Criminal Court (ICC) in UN discussions on Darfur complicate efforts to convince Sudan to accept the AMIS transition to a UN mission. Marzouk said that it should not be necessary to refer to Chapter VII by name in UN documents as long as the OPs include language allowing the forces to carry out the commitments detailed in the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). He said that omitting an explicit reference to Chapter VII may make it possible to gain Sudan's consent for the UN mission. Marzouk added that while the GOE understands that the transition can occur with or without the consent of the Government of Sudan, Egypt remains convinced that Sudan's consent is critical to the mission's ultimate success and that, under the proper circumstances, Egypt can play a role in gaining this consent. ¶2. (C) On Chad's influence in Darfur, Ambassador Marzouk said that the GOE has intelligence confirming that the Government of Chad is giving arms to Darfur militias opposed to the DPA. He noted that regional neighbors were working to diffuse the situation and expressed measured optimism that Bashir's planned August 8/9 meeting with President Deby would be productive. Marzouk said that he will travel to Khartoum August 15 and would welcome consultations with the U.S. prior to his trip. RICCIARDONE