GNU ON BRUSSELS CONFERENCE AND U.S.-SUDAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001628

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2016
TAGS: PREL KPKO PGOV US AU UN SU
SUBJECT: GNU ON BRUSSELS CONFERENCE AND U.S.-SUDAN
BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP

REF: KHARTOUM 01588

Classified By: P/E Chief W. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary: GNU officials Presidential Advisor Ismail
and State Minister of Foreign Affairs Al-Wassila expressed
the Government's interest in improving the U.S.-Sudan
bilateral relationship, and in taking advantage of the July
18 AMIS donor's conference in Brussels to hold discussions
with A/S Frazer along those lines. They noted the unexpected
invitations to both First Vice President Salva Kiir and SLM
leader Minni Minawi to visit the White House, and said that
these had led to suspicion on the part of the Government as
to the importance given to normalizing the U.S.-Sudan
relationship. Charge Hume underscored the importance of a
transition to a UN peacekeeping operation in Darfur, and
pointed to the Darfur Peace Agreement, bilateral relations,
the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and counter-terrorism as
agenda items for bilateral discussions at the Brussels
donor's conference. He noted that time is running out for
AMIS, and that the main beneficiary of peace in Darfur is the
Government itself. End summary.

Ismail: Seeking Improvement of Bilateral Relationship
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2. (C) CDA Hume met July 11 with Presidential Adviser
Mustapha Osman Ismail and State Minister of Foreign Affairs
Al-Sammani Al-Wassila as a follow-on to reftel meeting to
discuss preparations for the July 18 AMIS pledging conference
in Brussels. (Comment: it appeared the conversation had
involved an earlier discussion by the interlocutors with
President Bashir. End comment.) Ismail took the occasion to
detail the growth of Sudan ) U.S. cooperation in negotiating
the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the
Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). Just as earlier this year when
the Abuja peace talks reached a sticking point and
discussions between MFA Under Secretary Mutriff Saddiq and
SPLM National Assembly leader Yassir Arman with Charge Hume
had helped advance the peace process, now a similar outreach
effort could help to improve the bilateral relationship.


3. (C) Ismail said that Sudan is looking forward to a full
normalization of relations. Following the signing of the
CPA, Sudan understood that the U.S. would take several
positive steps, which he said had not taken place, in part
due to the Darfur conflict. Now, Sudan has suspicions, and
wanted to know if the U.S. is serious about normalizing.
Even if Darfur is dealt with successfully, he said, perhaps
another issue will arise to block progress, making the
government feel that normalization will not occur while it is
in power. Hence the relationship remains tense, with Sudan
on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism and under economic
sanctions. It is important to start a constructive dialogue,
he added, and work as partners. While this meeting is a
start, the process should continue in Brussels in meetings
with A/S Frazer.


4. (C) Al-Wassila said that that the Government of National
Unity (GNU) was entering a new era, and wished to maintain
peace and security. One of its main goals is to use its
natural resources ) its agricultural and mineral wealth, as
well as its location ) to address Sudan's underlying
poverty. Marginalization, he said, is not a GNU policy, but
rather the result of a lack of funds to develop distant parts
of the country adequately. Sudan can get on the right track
through a strategic partnership with the U.S., with each
party helping the other. The U.S. is concerned with security
issues in Africa, and its capacity and technology can benefit
Sudan's development of its natural resources, stabilizing the
region while developing the country.

Charge Hume: Brussels Agenda - DPA, U.S.-Sudan, CPA, CT
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Charge Hume noted that CJTF HOA Commander Rear Admiral
Hunt had just visited Khartoum and Darfur for the past two
days, representing the first visit by a senior U.S. military
officer to Sudan in a generation. Admiral Hunt noted its
circumstances were improving, with opportunities. While some
governments in the region are now troublemakers, Sudan was
trying to resolve its own problems.


6. (C) Hume said an agenda for discussions in Brussels would
include Darfur and DPA implementation, the U.S.-Sudan
bilateral relationship, the status of the CPA, and
counter-terrorism. He underscored that the USG did have
normalization as a goal, and that regime change is not on the
agenda. Hume said that Darfur dominated concerns in
Washington, and that the African Union is not capable of
implementing the DPA. Furthermore, no substantive Ceasefire

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Commission has taken place since May 5, and the recent Joint
Commission meeting was unsuccessful. Special Representative
Kingibe announced on July 10 that AMIS would pull out by
September 30 unless a UN peacekeeping operation is on the
horizon. For the Government to not let the UN take over
gives the impression that it is not trying to implement the
DPA.


7. (C) Hume said the Brussels conference would serve to raise
money needed to support AMIS pending a transition to a UN
peacekeeping operation. The UN mission in Sudan would have a
Chapter VII mandate only to protect civilians, an element
which is not in the current AMIS mandate. Sudan will be held
to blame if the situation in Darfur did not improve,
especially for rejecting a UN peacekeeping operation. Even
Sudan's military knows AMIS is not up to the challenge. In
the meanwhile, inter-SLM violence in Darfur is increasing.
If disarmament and cantonment proceed successfully, UN entry
in six months would be seen as reinforcing the disarmament,
demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) process already
underway.

Visits of SLM/Minni, FVP Kiir Bashir Come as Surprises
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8. (C) After stepping out of the office momentarily, Ismail
asked why the invitation to SLM leader Minni Minawi to visit
the White House had not gone through the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MFA). Charge Hume noted his significance as a DPA
signatory, to which Ismail noted that President Bashir had
also signed, but had not received an invitation. This gives
Sudan the right to be suspicious, Ismail said. First Vice
President Salva Kiir has also been invited to go to
Washington, although the MFA again was not notified. This
treatment left the GNU wondering why it is being treated in
this manner.

Ismail: Let's Compare Lists of Issues, Work for Progress
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9. (C) Ismail suggested that perhaps both Sudan and the U.S.
should draw up lists of issues to be resolved, and then
compare lists. The Government wants to know what actions it
would take to get off the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism
and to have economic sanctions dropped. He recounted how a
European ambassador had done so, and had improved relations
after a list of five concerns had been addressed. If
President Bashir were pressed to allow a transition to a UN
peacekeeping operation in Darfur, he will ask why, to what
benefit?

Charge Hume: Gov't Best Beneficiary of Darfur Peace
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10. (C) Charge Hume replied that President Bashir had
legitimate concerns, but that the right way to pursue an
improvement in the bilateral relationship would be to
recognize that the Government is the main beneficiary of
peace in Darfur. The Government needs to realize that AMIS
cannot do the job, and allow a transition to a UN
peacekeeping operation. This would not be a favor to the
U.S., but as evidence of continuing cooperation. Al-Wassila
offered that we should not say no peace can be obtained
without Abdel Wahid's agreement, and asked what the U.S.
should do with DPA spoilers. At the end of the day, he
added, a way might be found to resolve the Darfur situation
without either the African Union or the UN. Sudan is a UN
member, and is entitled to request assistance if needed.
First, however, Sudan would need to be convinced that no
other options were left.

Brussels: A Week Away, AMIS Clock Ticking
--------------


11. (C) Charge Hume steered the conversation back to the July
18 donor's conference in Brussels, noting that a practical
consideration remained: AMIS will soon collapse. Also, the
event would afford a chance for earnest discussion with A/S
Frazer. Al-Wassila said that the event would provide an
opportunity to pave the way for an improved bilateral
relationship. If there is a problem, the U.S. and Sudan
should work together to solve it. Ismail suggested that the
parties present meet again on July 15 to compare notes before
the conference.
HUME