BASHIR PRESS FORUM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 002768 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG, AF/SE, AF/RSA NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO AU SU CD UN US SUBJECT: BASHIR PRESS FORUM ¶1. (SBU) Summary: In a November 27 press forum in Khartoum conducted via satellite, President Bashir emphasized that international forces in Darfur should remain under African Union (AU) command and that he considered the proposed "third phase" of UN support for the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) indirect implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1706. Bashir indicated that two battalions would be sufficient to buttress AMIS forces, that security problems in Darfur were limited to a handful of localities, and that there had been only 9,000 deaths in Darfur. He also claimed that instability in Chad and along the border was the result of President Deby's refusal to cooperate with Sudan on security and denied that the Sudanese government was supporting Chadian rebel groups. Bashir was criticized the following day by opposition party representatives for distorting the humanitarian crisis and disrespecting the international community. End summary. ¶2. (U) The following are excerpts from the press conference as reported by the pro-government English-language daily "Sudan Vision." They were verified by an Embassy staff member who attended the event. -------------- United Nations' Role and AU Troops -------------- -- "We stated that we should focus on implementing the (Darfur Peace Agreement),and that we do not accept replacement of African forces by international forces. Despite that, resolution 1706 was issued. It is a contradictory resolution. It talked in its introduction about preserving Sudan's sovereignty and unity, but it generally violates this sovereignty." -- "...We are repeating our absolute rejection for this resolution (UNSCR 1706). It does not at all mean that we reject a deal with the United Nations. We are ready to cooperate with the United Nations, but this does not mean that we should accept this resolution." -- "The report raised by the African Union Force Commander in Darfur to the Peace and Security Council meetings in Addis Ababa on the 12th of this month spoke about the positive developments in Darfur. He stated that he is in need of adding two battalions to enable African forces to carry out their tasks efficiently in achieving stability in Darfur, despite that we hear that the additional forces required in Darfur are 17,000...What is really required is the material and logistics support for Darfur within the framework of consultancy between us and the United Nations." -- "We hear now about a third stage. It concerns execution of Resolution 1706 within this plan. The United Nations stated it would support joint and merged forces. We say that any support should be made to the African Union. We agreed that forces in Darfur should be under the African Union and should be under its command. We welcome any other support after that to enable these forces to carry out their duty." -- "We stated that the forces should be African forces. Some clever people say that they should be African forces under the United Nations. We say that the beret should be green. The required number of troops was stated by the African forces commander in Darfur...He stated that he needs two battalions only to carry out the African Union tasks in Darfur." -- "It is expected that the African Peace and Security Council would extend the period of African forces in Darfur and should demand support." -------------- Stability in Darfur -------------- -- "The problems taking place are restricted to seven localities only...In respect of security, there are regions in Darfur where Minni Arcoi Minawi forces were sighted together with those of Abdel Wahid (al Nur). These regions are quite secure because Abdel Wahid is committed to the ceasefire despite the fact that he did not sign the agreement. All Darfur was secure and stable until the (National) Redemption Front started activities. We can safely say that there are only five localities which are affected by the conflicts in Darfur." -------------- KHARTOUM 00002768 002 OF 002 Chadian Question -------------- -- "There is a problem between us and Chad. At first, he (Deby) had a very clear stance toward the Darfur issue on account that it will affect Chad. However, some of the senior elements in his government were siding with the rebels. The President's brother was working as coordinator for that support." -- "We gave them (the Chadian rebels) three choices: to hand over their arms and we would deliver them to the United Nations as refugees; to return to Chad; or we should deal with them militarily. They preferred the third choice and went with their weapons inside Chad." -- "The Tripoli Agreement was the third we had signed with President Deby to form joint Sudanese-Chadian forces to supervise the borders, but the Chadian side refused to execute the agreement...It even started to provide considerable support for the Redemption Front through Chad." -- "Any cooperation with Chad is welcome, as through it we can secure those borders through which the main support for rebels (passes). We find that rebels use cars that work on petrol. We don't have these types of cars. Our cars work on gasoline. The types of weapons used by (Chadian) rebels in Darfur include anti-aircraft missiles. Our armed forces do not have such weapons because they are not facing any aerial threats in Darfur." -- "We do not object to African forces to supervise borders." -- "When I met President Deby in Tripoli...I told him we do not have a single element in Chad. It was pure Chadian opposition...On the other hand, Chad's support for Darfur rebels is documented by the African Union and the United Nations." HUME