SUDAN: EASTERN PEACE TALKS GOING WELL, DON'T

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 006172 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS PTER KDEM EG SU ER SUBJECT: SUDAN: EASTERN PEACE TALKS GOING WELL, DON'T INTERFERE REF: STATE 164613 (NOTAL) Classified by Minister Counserlor for Economic and Political Affairs William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Drawing from reftel background and talking points, poloff shared with MFA Cabinet staff member Ahmed Aboul Zeid on October 2 USG concerns regarding the direction of peace talks between the Government of Sudan and Eastern rebel groups currently taking place in Asmara, Eritrea. Aboul Zeid, advisor to the Minister on Africa issues, quickly declared that Egypt did not share U.S. views on the status of the peace talks in Asmara, and cautioned Washington to "leave the file alone." Reports on the status of the peace talks, he said, are all positive and indicate that agreements are close to finalization. ¶2. (C) Aboul Zeid said that a wealth-sharing Memorandum of Understanding had just been signed by both parties, and other issues were being addressed constructively. He asserted that there were no reports of serious violence in the area among the main protagonists, and differentiated between the higher demands of Darfur rebels and those of the Eastern Front. The Front, he said, was mainly looking for financial benefits from enhanced economic activity in the region - particularly infrastructure projects. "We have very positive signals from the parties," he said, and "do not share your assessment" of the situation. Aboul Zeid praised the Eritrean mediation role, and once again cautioned the U.S. not to interfere in a process which the Egyptians see as moving in a positive direction. While committing to share the demarche internally, Aboul Zeid was unresponsive to our talking point on inclusion of international observers in the peace talks. RICCIARDONE