SPLM'S YASSIR ARMAN DISCUSSES NCP-SPLM JOINT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 001975 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016 TAGS: PREL KPKO PGOV PINR AU UN SU SUBJECT: SPLM'S YASSIR ARMAN DISCUSSES NCP-SPLM JOINT MEETING, WAY FORWARD ON DARFUR REF: KHARTOUM 01308 Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: According to SPLM National Assembly Chair Yassir Arman, the NCP and SPLM have formed a working group to study the issue of international peacekeeping in Darfur; it will meet and report to the Joint Political Committee on August 28. Although the NCP seeks an exit from the current situation, it continues to portray a unified GNU stance on the issue -) against UN peacekeeping force -) while criticizing the SPLM for speaking differently. The SPLM believes the lingering Darfur conflict detracts focus and resources from implementation of the CPA and the North-South situation in general. GoSS President Kiir intends to travel to Asmara soon to meet with both Ahmed Abdel Shafi and Abdel Wahid to try to gain their support for the DPA. End summary. -------------- -------------- Yassir: NCP Falsely Implies Unified GNU Stance on UN PKO -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) SPLM National Assembly Lead and Deputy Secretary General for the North Yassir Arman told Pol/Econ Chief that the NCP had raised the matter of a way forward on international force deployment in Darfur during the August 8-12 joint meeting between the NCP and SPLM. With the Government and National Assembly taking stances against a transition to a UN peacekeeping operation, the SPLM was asked, why did the SPLM support one? The SPLM's commitment to political institutions was questioned, Yassir said. The SPLM countered that it regarded the matter as a political issue, not a legal matter, and recalled that the SPLM had held a different view from the NCP from the beginning. The SPLM believes a UN PKO will provide security for civilians. The Government had worked to portray opposition to a UN PKO as a broad decision, although the SPLM was on record as preferring to reach a solution in conjunction with the international community. The issue is not over, it remains on the table, and the SPLM recognizes that it is dividing the Government. The SPLM believes the GNU needs a unified position for a UN PKO with Chapter VI and some Chapter VII elements. -------------- -------------- Yassir: Darfur Issue Overshadows CPA, Shifts Focus -------------- EZ21L05QH=QX nTn~k6(THH56Q[Smt This overshado Darfur needs a quicker solution that does not undermine the CPA, and thereby shift focus and resources away from the North-South equation. The entry of a UN peacekeeping operation would improve the situation in Darfur. A small committee was thus needed to discuss options, as the NCP wants out of the current state of affairs. The Yassir said he would soon travel to Asmara with GoSS President Salva Kiir to meet with both Ahmed Abdel Shafi and Abdel Wahid to try to gain their support for the DPA; Shafi, he maintained, was considering joining the NRF or negotiating enhancements to the DPA. -------------- -------------- Sub-Committee to Work on Issue for 15 Days, Give Report -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Yassir said a sub-committee had been formed, that included as co-chairs Minister of Cabinet Affairs Deng Alor and Presidential Advisor Mustafa Osman Ismail. The sides are to work together on the issue of international force deployment for 15 days, and then report their findings to the August 28 meeting of the NCP-SPLM Joint Political Committee. The Joint Political Committee would then follow up with senior political leadership, Yassir added. HUME