TANZANIA: DEMARCHES TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR UN

C O N F I D E N T I A L DAR ES SALAAM 001410

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

IO/UNP FOR BHARRIS AND DBRENNAN; USUN FOR EBRUNO; AF/E FOR
BYODER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2016
TAGS: PREL KPKO SU UNSC TZ
SUBJECT: TANZANIA: DEMARCHES TO GAIN SUPPORT FOR UN
TRANSITION IN SUDAN

REF: A. STATE 133250


B. STATE 131646

Classified By: DCM D. Purnell Delly for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Deputy Chief of Mission delivered
directly to the State House through a personal assistant of
President Kikwete August 17 the Ref A points, stressing the
importance of Tanzania's efforts to convince President Bashir
of Sudan to accept the expansion of the United Nations
Mission in Sudan to Dafur. Clearly outlining the key role of
Sudan to agree to the rehat in order to gain the support of
China and Russia for a UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR)
vote, the DCM emphasized that as regional neighbor and a UNSC
member, President Kikwete's intervention directly with the
President of Sudan to guide Bashir to understand the
importance of agreeing now, rather than later, to the U.N.
expansion could be pivotal in turning around the alarming
deterioration of the situation in Darfur.


2. (C) In a separate meeting between the Head of the U.N.
Security Council Unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
PolOff August 17, Tanzania expressed willingness to approach
Russia, China, Ghana and Congo regarding Darfur, but knows
that Sudan's approval of the transition from AMIS to UNMIS is
crucial. In Lebanon, Tanzania considers implementation of
UNSC resolution 1559 as key. At the UN, Tanzania had hoped
for Security Council reform before now and is thought to
support South Korea's candidate for Secretary General. End
summary.

SUDAN MUST AGREE TO TRANSITION
--------------

3. (C) Tanzania believes the approval of the Government of
Sudan is crucial to Darfur's transition from AMIS to UNMIS.
The personal assistant to President Kikwete, January Makamba,
told the DCM that he understood need for and urgency of
Tanzania, Ghana and the Congo, all UNSC members, to try to
"talk sense" into President Bashir of Sudan to agree to the
transition, and would pass the message that evening directly
to President Kikwete. In an earlier meeting, Vitus Njiku,
Head of the U.N. Security Council Unit in the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, told PolOff that Sudan's President Bashir's
description of a UN force in Sudan as "neo-colonialism" was
an inappropriate term. He suggested that in addition to
approaching Russia and China, the U.S. should talk to the
Arab League, which supports Bashir, noting if the
international community can convince the Arab League to
support the transition, the League should be able to convince
Bashir.

AU POSITION IMPORTANT FOR TANZANIA
--------------

4. (C) Njiku said the Government of Tanzania's (GOT) position
is the African Union position: AMIS must transition to a UN
mission. Njiku added that Sudan recently sent an envoy to
Tanzania and President Kikwete told the envoy that Tanzania
supports the transition from AMIS to UNMIS. When pressed on
the date for the transition, Njiku said that at its
conference in Banjul, the AU extended the mandate of AMIS to
December 31 and that the GOT would have to consult with AU
members before supporting an October 1 transition. Njiku
also said the GOT would defer to Congo as AU chair to decide
whether the decision to extend AMIS to December 31 "is just a
piece of paper." Njiku said if the AU feels it cannot
support AMIS after September 30, the GOT can support an
October 1 transition. PolOff asked how AMIS would continue
once funding runs out September 30 and Njiku said that the AU
had been hoping for good results from the pledging conference
in Brussels on July 18, but that "they did not happen."
PolOff asked what other funding options the AU is exploring
and Njiku said there were none.

COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING DARFUR
--------------

5. (C) Njiku said the GOT had not yet had contact with Congo
or Ghana on this issue but sees Congo as particularly
well-placed to exert influence as chair of the AU. Njiku
said "it is not difficult" for Tanzania to talk with Russia
and China regarding a UNSCR on Darfur and said he would talk
to his superiors about doing so. However, without the
consent of Bashir and Sudan's parliament, nothing would
happen. Njiku said he would review points (reftel A and B)
with Permanent Representative Ambassador Mahiga, who was in
Dar es Salaam August 17, adding that that Deputy Permanent
Representative Ambassador Manongi is in charge in New York.

LEBANON: 1559 IS A NECESSITY
--------------


6. (C) Njiku reiterated that in Lebanon, implementation of
resolution 1559 is the emphasis for the GOT as it will give
Lebanon power to control all of its territory and disarm all
militias. Without these steps, Njiku said, any resolution is
a short-term solution. Njiku described resolution 1701 as
"mild" as it does not call for a cease-fire. Njiku
distinguished a cease-fire from "cessation from hostilities"
under which, if provoked, one must respond.

UN CHANGES: SC REFORM AND SK FOR SG
--------------

7. (C) Njiku commented that the GOT had hoped to see UNSC
reform before the September UNGA term began. Regarding the
Secretary-General, Njiku said India's candidate joined late,

SIPDIS
knows the UN system and can explain it well, but is not
popular with governments because he has not worked for a
government. Njiku said he heard that the GOT supports South
Korea's candidate, but noted this position was not official.
RETZER