GNU-BEJA TALKS: NO OBSERVERS, NO TRANSPORTATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000265 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL LY UN SU SUBJECT: GNU-BEJA TALKS: NO OBSERVERS, NO TRANSPORTATION Classified By: Poloff L. Wahid, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On February 1, PolOff spoke with Dr. Amna Dirar, Vice President of the Eastern Front, about the scenario for the Tripoli talks slated to begin on February 7. Dirar said that she expected international observers to be present, as it was a precondition for talks in Tripoli. This is contrary to a January 24 meeting on the margins of the African Union Summit, when the Libyan Foreign Minister and Head of Security Services advised A/S Frazer that international observers would not be invited to the Tripoli talks, and would instead be provided a &readout8 (covered septel.) Dirar requested that the international community pressure the Libyans to invite international observers to the talks. ¶2. (SBU) On February 1, Judith Goetz, UN Political Officer, spoke with the Libyan Embassy Political Officer to request international observers be invited to the talks. Goetz said that the Libyan diplomat said he would speak with his ambassador about the request. Beja Transportation Issues -------------- ¶3. (SBU) On February 1, Dirar said that fourteen members of the Beja Congress in Sudan, including herself, were searching for transportation to Asmara to meet a Libyan airplane promised to take them to Tripoli for talks with the GNU. She added that the UN had agreed to provide transportation to Asmara, where the delegation would continue to Tripoli on Libyan government-provided aircraft. However, on January 30, the UN decided to rescind its offer, as it had been led to believe the travel of the Beja to Asmara was for intra-party consultations. Once the UN learned that travel to Asmara was intended to continue to Tripoli for peace talks with the GNU, it decided that it could not in its neutral position provide transportation. ¶4. (SBU) Post looks forward to whatever additional information USLO Triploi can provide on Libya's role with the Beja Congress, including clarification of the observer issue. ¶5. (U) Tripoli minimize considered. HUME