UPDATE ON UGANDA-LRA TALKS

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001684 SIPDIS BRUSSELS FOR HUME AND FRAZER SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL UG SU SUBJECT: UPDATE ON UGANDA-LRA TALKS ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Government of Southern Sudan's (GoSS) mediation initiative between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Government of Uganda (GOU) has made limited progress to date. On July 16 the parties agreed to basic ground rules and exchanged opening position papers, which were reportedly "miles apart." GOU officials say that they will make a good faith effort to find a settlement unless it becomes clear that they are wasting their time. Community of Sant'Egidio officials have engaged with the LRA delegation. End summary. -------------- Initial Arrangements -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On July 17, CG met with Ugandan counterpart Busho Ndinyenka, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Oryem Henry Okello, and Chief of Military Intelligence and Security Col. Leopold Kyanda. Okello said that talks with the LRA were still in their incipient stages. The two sides for several hours on July 16 and agreed to basic ground rules, including a commitment to avoid insults or confrontational language. They had also exchanged position papers, which Okello described as "miles apart." The only point of convergence was agreement that it was important to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict. Busho added that the GOU side was waiting for a communication from chief GoSS mediator Vice President Riek Machar to meet again and discuss the agenda for the talks. -------------- Ugandan Bottom Line -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Okello stressed that the Ugandans were in Juba for the long haul and would not abandon the talks unless it became clear that "(we) are wasting our time." He observed that the LRA delegation was not of sufficient stature to make binding commitments on the LRA leadership. The Ugandan side would thus insist that eventually, if points of agreement could be reached, it would be necessary for the LRA leadership to participate directly in the talks at the level of LRA Deputy Commander Vincent Otti, at the very least. He denigrated press reports that claimed the Ugandan delegation was set to travel to Garamba to meet Joseph Kony at his headquarters. ¶4. (SBU) A Ugandan consular official who participated in the July 16 session said that the LRA delegates had talked at length but with little focus. He characterized their input as "nonsense," but said that the GOU had extended its deadline for reaching an agreement from July 31 to September 12. In a number of one-on-one asides, various Ugandan participants continued to express skepticism about the prospects for a negotiated settlement. -------------- Nothing on the LRA -------------- ¶5. (SBU) We have picked up no second-hand reports on the LRA delegation's perspective, but have scheduled a meeting for this evening with a representative of the Community of Sant'Egidio that has been in contact with the LRA delegation and has participated in the opening sessions. The Sant'Egidio representative confirmed that talks are scheduled to resume July 17 at 1430 hours. STEINFELD