AMIS Update on Joint Commission

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001820 SIPDIS ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR AMB. HUDDLESTON SIPDIS E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO AU SU SUBJECT: AMIS Update on Joint Commission ¶1. On July 30 post received a letter dated July 28 from Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, Secretary to the Joint Commission of the African Union in Sudan (AMIS) addressed to Charge Huddleston, in care of the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum. ¶2. The text of the letter is as follows: (Begin text) Notice of the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission I am directed by the Chairperson of the Joint Commission to inform you that following consultations on the contentious issue of the participation of the non-DPA signatures in the meetings of the Ceasefire Commission (CFC) and the Joint Commission (JC),it is now decided that in the first instance, only the signatories to the DPA and the Declaration of Commitment (DoC),as well as the international partners should participate in the meetings of the two Commissions. This decision is informed by the need to break the current impasse whereby both the Government of Sudan and the SLM/A (Minni) refuse to sit together in these Commissions with those who are not signatories to the DPA or the DoC. The hope is that as we move forward, the need for greater inclusivity will become apparent to the hitherto reluctant signatories to the DPA. I am, therefore, to invite you to the next meeting of the Joint Commission on Thursday, 3 August 2006, at 10:00 A.M. in the African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa. The proposed agenda is as follows: 1) The security situation in Darfur; 2) The Report of the Chairperson of the Ceasefire Commission including progress in the implementation of the security aspects of the DPA; 3) Any other business. Your participation will be highly appreciated. (End text) STEINFELD