Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM1666
2006-07-14 17:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

WORKING WITH CHINA TO SECURE A UN PEACEKEEPING

Tags:  PREL PGOV KPKO PHUM SU CH UN AU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9415
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1666 1951704
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 141704Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3701
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 001666 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USUN FOR AMB. BOLTON
AF FOR A/S FRAZER
IO FOR A/S SILVERBERG
NSC FOR DR. COURVILLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO PHUM SU CH UN AU
SUBJECT: WORKING WITH CHINA TO SECURE A UN PEACEKEEPING
RESOLUTION IN DARFUR

REF: A. USUN NEW YORK 1349 (NOTAL)


B. KHARTOUM 1459

C. KHARTOUM 1474

D. USUN NEW YORK 1149

E. KHARTOUM 996

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES CAMERON HUME, REASON: 1.4(B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 001666

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

USUN FOR AMB. BOLTON
AF FOR A/S FRAZER
IO FOR A/S SILVERBERG
NSC FOR DR. COURVILLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO PHUM SU CH UN AU
SUBJECT: WORKING WITH CHINA TO SECURE A UN PEACEKEEPING
RESOLUTION IN DARFUR

REF: A. USUN NEW YORK 1349 (NOTAL)


B. KHARTOUM 1459

C. KHARTOUM 1474

D. USUN NEW YORK 1149

E. KHARTOUM 996

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES CAMERON HUME, REASON: 1.4(B) AND (D)


1. (C) Post welcomes USUN's suggestion to work with China on
securing a UNSC resolution for peacekeeping in Darfur. We
believe such an approach is best made in New York, but we are
ready to work with our Chinese colleagues in Khartoum, and
encourage similar U.S.-PRC discussions in Washington and
Beijing. Chinese embassy staff here follow Darfur issues
with interest (Ref E),and based on our observations, we
believe an approach to China would be more fruitful than an
approach to Russia or Qatar. China's views on Darfur are
also likely to carry greater weight with the Sudanese
Government than those other Arab or African countries, as
both SYGR Pronk and USYG Guehenno have noted (Refs B, C).


2. (C) Sudan's President Omer al-Bashir has repeatedly and
publicly rejected the deployment of UN peacekeeping forces in
Darfur. To change course, the international community must
persuade Bashir by a mixture of pressure and reassurance.
The United States is approaching the point in its
relationship with Sudan where additional pressure ceases to
be productive. China, however, has both the ability to
exercise greater pressure and the credibility to provide
reassurances. China buys 71 percent of Sudan's exports, and
ranks as Sudan's largest foreign investor. Moreover, despite
China's reliance on Sudanese oil -- estimated at between
seven and ten percent of China's petroleum imports -- China
has signaled it is willing work with the United States on a
UNSC Darfur resolution (Refs A, D).


3. (C) Working with the United States on Darfur can create an
opportunity for China to highlight its role as a responsible
stakeholder. It would also open a new field of cooperation
in U.S.-China relations, while recognizing China's legitimate
economic interests in Sudan. Simply knowing that China is
drafting a peacekeeping resolution with the United States and
other UNSC members -- possibly including Russia and Qatar, in
later stages -- may be enough to convince Bashir that his
options are limited. Knowing that China is helping to
determine the nature and extent of a UN peacekeeping mandate
may well reassure him that his worst fears will not be
realized. A joint U.S.-China resolution might even emerge as
Sudan's preferred alternative to a more expansive UKUN draft,
with its language regarding the ICC's prosecution of the
Lord's Resistance Army. Post stands ready to help USUN
however possible.
HUME