Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM2317
2006-09-21 13:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

DARFUR: PARTNERS DISCUSS STATE OF PLAY, EFFORTS TO

Tags:  PGOV PREF PHUM KPKO SU AU 
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VZCZCXRO5882
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #2317 2641329
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 211329Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4660
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
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)

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