Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CAIRO6939
2006-11-21 16:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:  

DARFUR: EGYPT AND ARAB LEAGUE PLEASED WITH AU-UN

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER MOPS UNSC EG SU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5305
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHEG #6939 3251606
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 211606Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2659
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 006939 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MOPS UNSC EG SU
SUBJECT: DARFUR: EGYPT AND ARAB LEAGUE PLEASED WITH AU-UN
ADDIS MEETING, PRESSING SUDAN TO MOVE FORWARD

Classified by Economic-Political Counselor Catherine
Hill-Herndon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 006939

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MOPS UNSC EG SU
SUBJECT: DARFUR: EGYPT AND ARAB LEAGUE PLEASED WITH AU-UN
ADDIS MEETING, PRESSING SUDAN TO MOVE FORWARD

Classified by Economic-Political Counselor Catherine
Hill-Herndon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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


1. (C) The Government of Egypt (GOE) and the Arab League
Secretariat (AL) are pleased with the outcome of November 16

SIPDIS
high-level consultations on Darfur held in Addis Ababa and
hosted by the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN).
GOE leaders and the Arab League are pressing the Government
of Sudan to publicly welcome the conclusions of those
consultations and to quickly finalize terms for deployment of
a hybrid UN-AU peace-keeping force. Egypt also plans to host
rebel non-signatories to the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) in
Cairo starting November 22, where they will be pressed to
agree to a military cease-fire and adhere to the DPA. A
November 21 regional summit on Darfur, hosted by Libya and
attended by leaders of Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Eritrea, and the
Central African Republic will significantly affect next steps
on the Darfur file. Should Khartoum agree to a UN-AU peace
keeping force for Darfur, Egypt is prepared to provide
significant troop contributions for a peace-keeping operation
in Darfur, provided a durable cease-fire is in place, and
that Khartoum accepts deployment of a hybrid AU-UN force.
Egypt believes a new UN Security Council resolution is
required to lay out the specifics of a Chapter VIII Darfur
deployment.

-------------- --------------
Egypt and Arab League Press Sudan to Accept AU/UN Force
-------------- --------------


2. (C) MFA Cabinet Advisor for African Affairs Ahmed Abul
Zeid told poloff on November 21 that Egypt was pressing the
GOS to accept the conclusions document negotiated in Addis
Ababa on November 16 by the GOS, the UN, AU, P-5, and others.
The Egyptians, he said, urged GOS Presidential Envoy
Mustapha Ismail in Cairo on November 20 to accept the plan
and quickly conclude details of a hybrid AU-UN force.
Likewise, President Mubarak would discuss next steps with
Sudanese President Bashir on November 21 at a Libyan-hosted
summit that would include leaders of Chad, Eritrea, and the
Central African Republic. Arab League Secretariat staff
member Zeid al Sabban likewise told poloff on November 21
that Amre Moussa urged Ismail to publicly embrace the
agreement reached in Addis on a hybrid force.


3. (C) Abul Zeid described the current diplomatic atmosphere
as extremely positive, and urged Washington not to upset the
"fragile situation" or "provoke the GOS" by setting deadlines
or making ultimatums. Abul Zeid pointed to an "unhelpful"
press report which asserted that U.S. Special Envoy Natsios
set a deadline for Khartoum to accept the AU-UN proposals by
the end of the year. The Sudanese are "so close to agreeing"
(to the AU-UN document); "why provoke them now?" he asked
rhetorically.

--------------
Darfur Rebels Expected in Cairo
--------------


4. (C) Pressed for an update on reports that Darfur rebels
would convene in Cairo for talks on DPA adherence this week,
Abul Zeid confirmed that Egyptian intelligence was set to
host Khalil Ibrahim and other (un-named) Darfur rebels
beginning on November 22. Abul Zeid had few details on
expected attendance or agenda items, noting that EGIS would
coordinate the entire effort.

--------------
Next Steps
--------------


5. (C) Asked about next steps on an enhanced peace-keeping
force for Darfur, Abul Zeid said that Egypt was prepared to
offer "significant numbers" of troops for a Darfur operation,
provided an effective ceasefire was in place and that the GOS
accepted the deployment. Abul Zeid believed South Africa and
Rwanda might also be prepared to send troops to Darfur, but
that other North Africans were not yet prepared or willing to
follow suit. Abul Zeid believed that once Khartoum
negotiated and accepted specific terms for a hybrid AU-UN
force, a new UNSC resolution would be required to
operationalize a Chapter VIII mandate.
RICCIARDONE