Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM2442
2006-10-03 16:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

DARFUR: EGYPTIAN ENGAGEMENT IN HIGH GEAR

Tags:  PGOV PREL KPKO PINR SU EG UN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8341
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #2442 2761616
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 031616Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4847
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 002442 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG, AF/SE AND NEA/ELA
NSC FOR COURVILLE AND SHORTLEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO PINR SU EG UN
SUBJECT: DARFUR: EGYPTIAN ENGAGEMENT IN HIGH GEAR

REF: KHARTOUM 02277

Classified By: DCM Roberto Powers, Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 002442

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG, AF/SE AND NEA/ELA
NSC FOR COURVILLE AND SHORTLEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO PINR SU EG UN
SUBJECT: DARFUR: EGYPTIAN ENGAGEMENT IN HIGH GEAR

REF: KHARTOUM 02277

Classified By: DCM Roberto Powers, Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Egyptian engagement with the Sudanese
government on the Darfur crisis has moved into high gear.
The GoE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a 90-day Action
Plan for Darfur to its embassies, which resembles USG
proposals for advancing peace in the region, and the Egyptian
ambassador in Khartoum will discuss the plan with Vice
President Ali Osman Taha within the week. In addition, Arab
League Secretary General Amr Moussa announced at the start of
a two-day visit to Khartoum that he will try "to find a way
out" of the crisis. End summary.

--------------
EGYPTIAN ACTION PLAN
--------------


2. (C) In an October 3 meeting with Poloff, Egyptian DCM
Osama Shaltout (please protect) described a four-point Action
Plan for a resolution to the Darfur crisis issued by the MFA
to its embassies in the last week. The plan is to be
implemented in the next 90 days and consists of the following:

-- Cessation of hostilities between the Sudanese government
and the Darfur rebel groups. This includes lowering the
public rhetoric from the National Congress Party (NCP),the
rebels, and the international community.

-- Engagement with the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA)
non-signatories to encourage their accession to the DPA, with
the potential for a supplemental document addressing
outstanding issues.

-- Sudanese government cooperation and support for the
immediate launch of the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue, in
coordination with the UN.

-- Facilitation of economic development projects in Darfur.

Shaltout said that the Egyptian ambassador will raise these
points with Vice President Taha within the week. This would
be done in the context of previous Sudanese requests for
greater international assistance in bringing non-signatories
to the DPA.


3. (C) The Egyptian Embassy is also awaiting more specific
instructions from Cairo about how to proceed with
implementation of the Action Plan. The Egyptian security and
intelligence services hold the Sudan portfolio within the GoE
and are the traditional interlocutors with the Darfur rebels.
Shaltout said that he receives the intelligence reports on
interactions with rebel leaders and expressed interest in
coordinating with the USG to engage the non-signatories. He
cautioned, however, that any Egyptian efforts to achieve
peace in Darfur could not be seen as resulting from U.S.
pressure.


4. (C) Though GoE concern about mounting political
instability on its southern border is known (reftel),
Shaltout said that Egypt wanted to resolve the crisis to
avoid paying its part of the Arab League financial pledge to
AMIS. He said that as the conflict continues, non-payment
becomes politically difficult in the face of Gulf countries'
contributions, and Egypt feared losing face within the Arab
League. Shaltout also emphasized the strong relationship
between the GoE and USG and indicated that Egypt did not want
to strain this relationship over Sudan.

--------------
AMR MOUSSA IN KHARTOUM
--------------


5. (C) Amr Moussa arrived in Khartoum on October 2 and will
depart October 4. According to the independent daily "Al
Sahafa," Moussa announced after his arrival at Khartoum
International Airport that he had come "to find a way out" of
the Darfur crisis. The Egyptian Embassy coordinated his
visit. Shaltout was not specific about the message that
Moussa planned to deliver but said that he would have
"candid" discussions with high ranking Sudanese officials,
including President Bashir, about how to avoid a collision
with the international community. Shaltout is scheduled to
meet with Moussa on the morning of October 4. Any
information provided by Shaltout on the visit will be
reported septel.
HUME