A/S WELCH DISCUSSES LEBANON, DARFUR WITH EGYPT'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 006885

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2016
TAGS: PRL PGOV PTER MORS UNSC EG SU LE
SUBJECT: A/S WELCH DISCUSSES LEBANON, DARFUR WITH EGYPT'S
FOREIGN MINISTER

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: A/S Welch met with Egyptian Foreign
Minister Aboul Gheit in Cairo on November 14. Aboul Gheit
confirmed he will go to Addis Ababa November 16 to attend the
UN/AU meeting. He reported that the Sudanese are willing to
accept the proposed first and second packages of UN support
for the AU, but not the third. They will accept non-African
troops providing "technical support" (ie., logistics or
communications) but not combat forces. He expects "good
progress" but no major breakthroughs in this week's meeting.
On Lebanon, Aboul Gheit said that Egypt will talk to Syria
about the situation, which Egypt considers "very sensitive."
He also questioned the Maronite commander of Beirut's
commitment to "defending Lebanese stability." Aboul Gheit
underlined the usefulness of continuing exchanges on Darfur,
and welcomed any ideas or discussion on options in Lebanon.
END SUMMARY.

Darfur
--------------

2. (C) Visiting A/S Welch met with Egyptian Minister for
Foreign Affairs Aboul Gheit on November 14 in Cairo.
According to Aboul Gheit, the Sudanese, working with the
African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Commission (PSC) in
Addis Ababa and UN Assistant Secretary General for
Peacekeeping Hedi Annabi, have agreed on the first and second
packages of UN support for the African Union forces, but
cannot agree to the third part. The Sudanese will not accept
non-African troops to use in "bulk" but non-African technical
units, ie., communications, transportation, and logistics,
were acceptable. When asked about the possibility of NATO
member state troops, Aboul Gheit warned against even
mentioning it, and cited Malaysian communications units as
more acceptable to Sudan.


3. (C) Aboul Gheit said Annabi and Sudanese foreign minister
Lam Akol would attend a November 16 meeting of the AU's PSC
in Addis, and he confirmed he would also be going. Aboul
Gheit believes the Sudanese are "eager" to be accommodating
and he expects "good progress" but no major breakthrough. In
response to a question about bringing Darfur non-signatories
into peace negotiations, Aboul Gheit said the Sudanese
government is eager to widen the discussions, and ready to
pay significant compensation to Darfur tribes. He said he
talked to his French counterpart yesterday about allowing
Khalil Ibrahim to travel from Paris to Cairo for talks on DPA
adherence.


4. (C) In that same conversation, Aboul Gheit reported that
the French Foreign Minister had earlier that day raised the
idea of UN forces in Chad and the Central African Republic,
on both sides of the border. The Sudanese "said no" to
forces on the Sudanese side but said observers would be
acceptable. Aboul Gheit commented that observers would be
"sitting ducks" without a peace agreement.


5. (C) Aboul Gheit said the Sudanese Charge in DC asked
Egypt to encourage Special Envoy Andrew Natsios stop in
Khartoum en route to Addis this week. Aboul Gheit said he
would be happy to speak to Special Envoy Natsios on
Wednesday, November 15 between 9-10 a.m. DC time. A/S Welch
asked if Aboul Gheit is satisfied with communications with
the US on this issue. Aboul Gheit responded that "we are
giving you lots and getting lots of answers," and compared
exchanges with the US favorably to those with the UK.

Lebanon
--------------

6. (C) A/S Welch asked for Aboul Gheit's views on Lebanon.
He responded that the situation is "very sensitive," on a
"hazardous course," and that "if one person is killed it will
explode." The minister said Egypt will communicate its
concerns to Syria. He also commented that the "readiness" of
the Maronite commander of Lebanese armed forces in Beirut
needs to be "encouraged to defend Lebanese stability," as
Egypt detects hestation on his part. He also suggested that
Walid Jumblatt needs to be "quieted."


7. (C) In response, A/S Welch said the US is concerned about
outside parties trying to exploit the situation. Hezbollah,
he said, wants to divert attention away from itself to cover
its mistakes, and its failure to come through on
reconstruction. He noted that Michel Aoun has told
Ambassador Feltman that he does not agree with Hezbollah's
street demonstration tactics. Aboul Gheit said the March 14
figures have proven to be "tough" and have not been "shaken"
by what is happening. He asked the US stay in close touch
with Egypt on developments, and welcomed any ideas or
reflections on a possible way forward.
RICCIARDONE