SUDAN/CPA: NCP AND SPLM HOLD THREE-DAY OFFICIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001308 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR D AND AF/SPG E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL SU SUBJECT: SUDAN/CPA: NCP AND SPLM HOLD THREE-DAY OFFICIAL MEETING Classified By: Acting P/E Chief L. Wahid for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Summary. From May 26-29 the NCP and the SPLM discussed CPA implementation; according to a participant the session began somewhat acrimoniously but warmed throughout. Vice President Salva Kiir highlighted three main CPA issues; security, oil revenue transparency, and Abyei. President Bashir responded to Kiir by commending the progress of the CPA. Though the drafting of the final communiqu brought tensions back to the surface, participants claimed to be pleased with the meeting. According to one participant, the Abyei sub-committee agreed to invite the ABC Commissioners to explain their decision. (This remains to be verified, as there has been some back and forth on this for months between Kiir and Bashir.) Many within the SPLM believe that the NCP is delaying CPA implementation, which will only be exacerbated by the creation of additional committees. Political and press reaction has been mixed, with some commenting that the main contentious issues were not resolved. End Summary. Opening Ceremonies: Kiir and Bashir Speak -------------- ¶2. (SBU) First Vice President Salva Kiir set the tone for the meeting during the opening ceremonies in which he laid out the most contentious issues facing the two parties; security, oil revenue transparency and Abyei. Kiir highlighted the need for increased transparency in the oil sector, particularly better accounting for costs deducted and a more effective petroleum commission. He accused the NCP intelligence elements of continuing to support armed militias and foreign fighters to destabilize the south. In his statement he listed some positive developments in CPA implementation, including the opening of two universities in the south. Kiir called for Sudan to embrace a foreign policy of openness and frankness that reflect the character of the new Government of National Unity, rather than simply a continuation of old policies. He closed with reminding attendees that unity would be made attractive only if a true partnership between the NCP and SPLM were formed. ¶3. (SBU) President Bashir followed Kiir,s comments with brief remarks praising the CPA as an unprecedented document that makes Sudan an example of conflict resolution and good ;governance for the entire world. He also expressed appreciation for the role of the free press in keeping the government on track. Abyei -------------- ¶4. (C) On the issue of Abyei, which was the most controversial of the conference, four options were developed; the formation of a new political commission made up of the two parties; asking the experts from the Abyei Boundary Commission (ABC) to return to Sudan to justify their decision; asking the Constitutional Court to resolve the stand-off; or choosing a third party to conduct binding arbitration. The SPLM recommended the execution of the ABC report, while the NCP objected to the report because the Commission overstepped its mandate. The NCP and SPLM agreed to form a sub-committee on Abyei. According to James Kok, GoSS Peace Administrator, the ABC sub-committee agreed to invite the commissioners to explain their decision, a decision that he says, left many within the SPLM unhappy. Though none of the four options were in line with the CPA, some members of the NCP and SPLM believe that the parties may amend the CPA by mutual agreement to permit resolution of the issue, according to Kok. (The issue of inviting the ABC commissioners back to Khartoum has been going back and forth for months; Salva Kiir told us two months ago that Bashir has waffled on whether to give a green light.) Closed NCP-SPLM Session -------------- ¶5. (C) The SPLM delivered four papers on CPA violations in power sharing, security, wealth sharing and the media, specifically highlighting Abyei, the National Petroleum Commission (NPC),the Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC),Demobilization, Disarmament, and Reintegration (DDR) and the 20% allotment of civil service jobs to the SPLM. Kok said that Bashir did not pay attention during the SPLM presentation. He also stated that the NCP was using a strategy of denial and creating sub-committees to delay the implementation of the CPA. ¶6. (U) The joint committee created five committees which KHARTOUM 00001308 002 OF 002 issued the following recommendations: -- to create a gradual program to implement the delayed stages of the CPA and possibly arbitration in areas unsolvable through direct talks, -- give priority to the revision of laws in accordance with the CPA, -- to build confidence between the two parties and to rapidly implement the DPA and the East Peace Talks. ¶7. (U) The two parties urged for the speedy issuance of the new currency, the establishment of the National Reconstruction and Development Fund (NRDF),the execution of the Joint Assessment Mission (JAM) projects, the formation of the National Lands Commission and the creation of a collections system to collect non-oil revenues in South Sudan. The joint committee underscored the importance of supporting the GoSS decision in handling the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Reaction -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Reaction to the NCP-SPLM meeting has been mixed. Some on the outside, like Saadiq Al Mahdi of the Umma Party stated that the meeting was a "kids game". Alfred Taban, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the "Khartoum Monitor" wrote that the Abyei options are either unworkable or impractical and the meeting resolved nothing. The official NCP media outlets praised the fact of the meeting and its reaffirmation of N/S reconciliation. We are continuing to seek opinions on the relevance of the meeting from our interlocutors. STEINFELD