DARFUR: PARTNERS DISCUSS STATE OF PLAY, EFFORTS TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 002317 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR A/S FRAZER, NSC FOR COURVILLE AND SHORTLEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2026 TAGS: PGOV PREF PHUM KPKO SU AU SUBJECT: DARFUR: PARTNERS DISCUSS STATE OF PLAY, EFFORTS TO REACH OUT TO NON-SIGNATORIES REF: KHARTOUM 2264 Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) During a Sept. 20 meeting of the Darfur Partners (UK, Canada, France, Norway, Netherlands, and U.S.),participants emphasized the importance of involving, in some manner, Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) non-signatories in the Cease Fire Commission (CFC). The African Union (AU) representative countered that the proper venue was at Joint Commission (JC) meetings in Addis Ababa. CDA Hume cautioned the group that while reform of the CFC was important, mere structural changes would be useless in an environment of ongoing violations of the DPA by both non-signatories and the Government of Sudan, the latter intent on realizing a military solution to the conflict. The next JC meeting was dependent on the naming of a new Chair, which, in turn, awaits the announcement of a successor to AU Special Representative Kingibe. All agreed bilateral exchanges were the best mechanism to continue to press the Government to halt its offensive in Darfur. -------------- NON-SIGNATORIES -------------- ¶2. (C) The group discussed the findings of the recently-concluded mission to Darfur (reftel),which revealed further splits among the faction loyal to Abdul Wahid and a growing gap between political leaders outside the country and their military commanders in the field. All agreed that due to the fractured nature of the movements still outside the DPA, the idea of a leadership conference supported by the international community is premature. The task before the international community is now more complex than after the May 2006 signing of the DPA. The group agreed to move forward in the coming weeks on a joint U.S., UK, EU, and Dutch effort to establish greater working-level contacts with non-signatories in the field in an attempt to build concensus in favor of joining the DPA. Should discussions at the working-level bear fruit, EU Special Representative Pekka Haavisto is prepared to play a more active role at the political level. Charge Hume emphasized the significant hurdles to such an initiative, including active Sudanese Government obstruction, an ongoing military offensive, and an increasingly splintered rebel movement. However, these challenges should not stop the international community from trying. -------------- BLAIR INITIATIVE -------------- ¶3. (C) UK Ambassador Cliff briefed the group on the initiative by Prime Minister Blair. The UK strategy is to create as wide a circle of partners as possible who can convey a consistent message to President Bashir. The plan also envisions an early October visit to Khartoum by a group of foreign ministers to express the international community,s determination to achieve UN transition and continued implementation of the DPA. Ministers would discuss what incentives and penalties were on the table and emphasize that Sudan and the international community had until the end of October to find a solution to the current impasse. -------------- UN SUPPORT TO AMIS -------------- ¶4. (U) A memorandum of understanding between the United Nations and the African Union has been finalized and will be shared with the Government of Sudan in the coming days. The support package includes logistical assistance and material aid, military staff support, advisory assistance to civilian police, as well as other staff support for DPA implementation, public information, mine action, and humanitarian coordination. The UN and AU have both agreed that the CFC should be strengthened. HUME