Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CAIRO6582
2006-10-29 14:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

SPECIAL ENVOY NATSIOS'S OCTOBER 21 MEETING WITH

Tags:  PREL PGOV MOPS PTER EAID EG SU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3257
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHEG #6582/01 3021432
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 291432Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2267
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 006582 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS PTER EAID EG SU
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY NATSIOS'S OCTOBER 21 MEETING WITH
EGYPTIAN INTELLIGENCE CHIEF OMAR SOLIMAN


Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

-------
Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 006582

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS PTER EAID EG SU
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY NATSIOS'S OCTOBER 21 MEETING WITH
EGYPTIAN INTELLIGENCE CHIEF OMAR SOLIMAN


Classified by DCM Stuart Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) In an introductory meeting October 21, Intelligence
Chief Omar Soliman reviewed Egyptian thinking on Sudan and
Darfur with U.S. Presidential Envoy for Sudan, Andrew
Natsios. Despite tense relations with Khartoum, Egypt is
working to resolve the conflict in Darfur and to bolster the
stability and authority of the central government to prevent
further conflicts. Egypt expects to host two key Darfur
rebel non-signatories in Cairo in late October, aiming to
broker an agreement by year's end between rebels and the GOS.
Soliman highlighted the important regional roles played by
Eritrea in Sudan, and encouraged U.S. discussions with Asmara
on the issue. Egypt is also conferring with Chad and Libya
on ways to resolve the conflict in Darfur. Natsios shared
USG views on Darfur, explaining the humanitarian motivations
for U.S. activism, and sought Soliman's views on internal
political dynamics of the Sudanese regime. He also pressed
for prompt international action on Darfur. Last, the two
touched on a Sudanese report regarding attempted economic
deal-making in Darfur. End summary.


2. (U) Natsios was accompanied by the Ambassador, U.S.
Charge d'Affaires to Sudan Cameron Hume, AF/SE Chief of Staff
Andrew Steinfeld, ORA Deputy Chief, and ECPO Notetaker.

--------------
Troubled Ties with Sudan
--------------


3. (C) Soliman described the importance of Sudan to Egypt
and tensions between the two states that date back primarily
to the time of Hassan al Turabi. "Despite their having tried
to kill our President," he said, Mubarak chose to avoid
"spilling blood between us." Now, he added, the government
in Sudan has "too many problems" to deal with and "we need to
help them." The government now includes many southerners and
opposition groups, and the relative power of the National

Islamic Front, he added, is reduced. Soliman argued that the
central government's "ignoring" of Darfur's needs has
contributed greatly to the crisis. The AU's intervention has
been stymied, he added, since it did not send "good troops."

--------------
Darfur Rebel Groups to Cairo
--------------


4. (C) Soliman told Natsios that Egypt is addressing the
Darfur conflict with both the rebels and the government.
Egypt, he said, had invited Abdel Wahed Nur, Ibrahim Khalil
("we don't like him"),and others to Cairo on October 28 to
discuss the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) and security
situation in that region. In their response accepting the
invitation, he noted, the rebels acknowledged Egypt as the
only state with influence over the GOS. He hopes Egypt can
succeed in brokering an agreement by year-end. With the GOS,
Egypt hopes to convince them to offer more positions in
government to Darfur rebel leaders ("although not too many
privileges"),and improve living conditions in Darfur. He
said if the rebels and the GOS reach agreement, a transition
to UN forces would not be a problem. Conversely, he added,
without such an agreement the situation will remain "stuck."

--------------
Roles of Eritrea, Chad Important
--------------


5. (C) Soliman noted the recent peace agreement signed in
Asmara, Eritrea between the GOS and Eastern Sudanese rebel
groups, and pointed to the "good influence" which Asmara has
over Darfur rebel groups. The U.S., he said, "needs to meet
the Eritreans" and encourage them to do more to help in
Darfur. Similarly, Chad's role in the Darfur crisis is
crucial. Chadian President Deby, he added, "is being
cooperative" and can help resolve problems in Darfur. Still,
Bashir uses the Zaghawa tribe in Darfur to create problems
for Deby in Chad. Soliman also added that he broke fast "one
day last week" with Libyan leader Qadhafi, who he asked to
help stop the fighting in Darfur.

--------------
Crucial to Bolster Central Authority
--------------


6. (C) At several points in the conversation, Soliman
expressed concern over the ability of the Sudanese government
to retain control and prevent the collapse of central

CAIRO 00006582 002 OF 002


authority. "We need to help them," as the problems are "too
much for any government to handle." There are growing
problems in Nuba Mountains, and "small cells" are working
toward separation in Kordofan. Egypt is pressing the Eastern
Sudan groups to settle their disputes with the government.
If we don't continue working to resolve the various crises,
Sudan will become like Congo in regards to the chaos and
destruction there. Despite the many problems, he said that
Egypt is trying to "raise the morale" of the Sudanese
government, and to motivate it to address development issues
in the South and the implementation of the Comprehensive
Peace Agreement.


7. (C) Asked by Natsios about the probability of a military
coup against Bashir, and the degree of Islamist support among
officers, Soliman said many younger officers who joined the
military after Bashir's rise to power had fallen under the
influence of Hassan Al Turabi at the military academy and
were sympathetic toward him. However, if there is a
Turabi-led military coup, he added that "we won't allow such
a coup to succeed." Our policy is to support the present
government ("comprised of 48% southerners") and to change the
mood so the government is not so weak, he added. If it
remains weak, this will only encourage others in Sudan to
rebel and continue the chaos.

--------------
Natsios Cites Time Crunch
--------------


8. (C) Arguing for prompt international action on Darfur,
Natsios noted the coming change of the UN Secretary General
and senior staff would leave a deep gap on Sudan expertise.
Also, if there is a change in control of one or both houses
of Congress, Administration policy may be under new
pressures. Should there be wide-scale killing in Darfur as a
result of GOS policy, the administration may come under
enormous pressure to act, warned Natsios.

--------------
Western Conspiracy: Oil in Darfur?
--------------


9. (C) Recounting a conversation with Egyptian Presidential
Spokesman and Advisor to the President Soliman Awad, the
Ambassador asked for details about two Western businessmen
who promised to Bashir that they would "make Western
political pressure on Darfur go away" if given mineral
exploration rights in Darfur. They said they planned to
search for oil and uranium. Soliman confirmed that Bashir
raised the issue with Mubarak, and that Bashir had talked to
the two, one American and one European, in Russia when he was
there in early September. Apart from a mailing address in
Russia, neither the Sudanese nor the Egyptians had further
information on the two.


10. (U) This message was cleared by SE Natsios' staff.
RICCIARDONE