Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM1588
2006-07-08 09:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN PREPARING FOR JULY 18 MEETING

Tags:  PREL KPKO PGOV US AU UN SU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2899
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1588/01 1890937
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 080937Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3560
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001588 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/SGP, AF/RSA, AND IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2016
TAGS: PREL KPKO PGOV US AU UN SU
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN PREPARING FOR JULY 18 MEETING
IN BRUSSELS

Classified By: CDA Cameron Hume, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001588

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/SGP, AF/RSA, AND IO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2016
TAGS: PREL KPKO PGOV US AU UN SU
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN PREPARING FOR JULY 18 MEETING
IN BRUSSELS

Classified By: CDA Cameron Hume, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: President Bashir has endorsed the proposal
for a high-level government of Sudan delegation to meet with
A/S Frazer in Brussels on July 18. Bashir remains committed
to improving relations with the United States and to
implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement. CDA Hume
repeated that the USG thought it essential that transition to
UN peacekeeping be agreed to by Sudan in order to secure the
peace in Darfur. Although the USG would support AMIS in the
interim, the AU did not have the capacity to implement the
DPA. The two sides agreed to meet later in the week to
prepare an agenda for the Brussels meeting. End summary.

Securing Peace in Darfur Key to Improved Relations
-------------- --------------


2. (C) CDA Hume met July 8 with Presidential Adviser Magzoub
Al Khalifa to discuss proposal for a bilateral meeting in
Brussels on July 18. Hume confirmed that A/S Frazer would be
available for such a meeting. Hume said that Washington
remained prepared to work with the Government of Sudan on
outstanding questions. The goal of normalization of
relations was not out of reach, but progress had to be made.
The USG considered that the most urgent issue remains
securing the peace in Darfur, which both sides agree on, as
demonstrated in their support for the Darfur Peace Agreement
(DPA).

DPA Implementation Depends Upon AMIS to UN PKO Shift
-------------- --------------


3. (C) Hume reiterated the USG view that implementation of
the DPA required a transition from AMIS to a UN peacekeeping
force by the first of October. The USG would give support to
AMIS in the interim period, but resources for this purpose
were limited. Lack of leadership by AMIS in this period,
whether the difficulty in holding meetings of the Ceasefire
Commission or the lack of civilian staff in Darfur, put
implementation of the DPA at risk. Peace in Darfur depended
on cooperation with the UN and the international community,

and Sudan,s rejection of UN peacekeeping put that goal in
jeopardy.

Sudan to Send High-Level Delegation to Brussels
-------------- --


4. (C) Al Khalifa said he had discussed with President Bashir
the proposal for a bilateral meeting with A/S Frazer. Bashir
endorsed this idea. The GoS would send a high-level
delegation to Brussels, and during the coming days Al
Khalifa, President Adviser Mustafa Ismail, and MFA Under
Secretary Mutriff Saddiq were charged with preparing the

SIPDIS
Sudanese position. He suggested that perhaps by July 12 the
two sides meet again to come up with an agenda containing the
items that both would wish to discuss. Hume said that this
seemed like a good way forward, and that he would ask for
Washington guidance.

Al Khalifa Seeks Arrival of U.S. DPA Security Verifiers
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Al Khalifa raised two other points about Darfur.
First, the GoS had authorized the visas for the three U.S.
military officers who were assigned to help with verification
of the DPA. Nevertheless, they had not arrived. Al Khalifa
said their assistance in verification was urgently needed,
given the importance of this issue and the technical
limitations of the AU force. Second, the SLA/Minnawi
delegation in Khartoum would meet with him later in the day
to present a letter suggesting the nomination for the
position of Senior Assistant to the President. (Note: As
previously reported, Al Khalifa expects Minnawi to be the
nominee, and Bashir has already decided he would accept this
nomination.) Minnawi is expected to come to Khartoum within
a week for initial meetings with the government. End note.)


6. (C) Hume answered that the delay in arrival of the three
officers was an internal bureaucratic issue and that he
expected it to be resolved quickly. He reminded Al Khalifa
that RADM Hunt would arrive in Khartoum on July 10 for
meetings with UN and AU peacekeepers. Hume said that, if he
had the opportunity to meet with Minnawi early in the week,
he would again stress the importance of a broad-based
approach to implementation of the DPA, aiming to involve
representatives of all communities in the implementation
process.

FVP Kiir Visit to Washington Key; DPA to be Discussed

KHARTOUM 00001588 002 OF 002


-------------- --------------


7. (C) Finally, Hume reiterated the important of the visit by
FVP Salva Kiir to Washington. While Kiir would want to make
some points as leader of the south, President Bush would want
to discuss with him as well Sudan,s views on implementing
the DPA, including the transition from AMIS to a UN force.
Hume expected to be able to deliver letters from former
Deputy Secretary Zoellick both to Kiir and VP Taha during the
course of this week, and those letters would stress the U.S.
conviction that early transition to a UN force was essential
for implementation of the DPA.
HUME