JOINT COMMISSION MEETING TO BE CONVENED AFTER

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001725 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO PGOV MOPS EAID AU SU SUBJECT: JOINT COMMISSION MEETING TO BE CONVENED AFTER BRUSSELS PLEDGING CONFERENCE ¶1. In a letter dated July 16, the African Union office in Khartoum has informed the Embassy that a meeting of the Joint Commission will be convened at an unspecified date after the conclusion of the Brussels pledging conference. ¶2. The full text of the letter follows: (Begin text) Joint Commission Meeting You will recall that the 13th June 2006 meeting of the Joint Commission was inconclusive because of differences regarding the nature and extent of participation in the meeting by those who are not signatories to the DPA. The meeting was suspended to allow for consultations on these issues and find a way forward. It was agree that the Commission would reconvene soon after the AU Summit in Banjul. Indeed, recent developments in Darfur have increased the necessity for the Joint Commission to start functioning well. The chairperson of the Commission, Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, was nonetheless unable to convene the Joint Commission after the AU Summit because of the exigencies arising from developments on the ground in Darfur, which were very preoccupying and the preparations for the AMIS pledging conference scheduled to take place in Brussels on 18 July 2006. He however wishes to inform that a consultative meeting with members of the Commission and observers from the international partners will be convened soon after the pledging conference and in light of what was discussed there, to sort out the contentious issue of participation and agree on how to proceed. Best regards, (signed) Mrs. Monique Mukaruliza Deputy Head of Mission (End text) STEINFELD