A/S FRAZER MEETING WITH LIBYAN FM SHALGAM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000413 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL US AU LY SU SUBJECT: A/S FRAZER MEETING WITH LIBYAN FM SHALGAM Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Libyan Foreign Minister Shalgam met with A/S Frazer in Khartoum on January 24; he cited regional instability as a key Libyan concern, and urged Libyan )U.S. coordination in addressing issues of mutual interest. He mentioned President Qadafi's suggestion to send 3,000 AMIS troops to monitor the Chad-Sudan border; A/S Frazer pointed out the negative impact this would have on an already thinly stretched AMIS peacekeeping operation. Shalgam said Libya did not plan to invite foreign observers to the Beja-GNU negotiations coming up in Libya. Shalgam characterized Chad as complex politically, and as prone to a coup due to over-reliance on President Deby. He referred to the Darfur conflict as social in nature; resolution requires a role for Darfurians in central government. He added that Eritrea is involved in both Sudan's east and Darfur, yet remained inflexible. End summary. -------------- -------------- Libya Seeks to Address Regional Instability with the U.S. -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) On January 24, Libyan Foreign Minister Abd al-Rahman Shalgam and Head of Security Services Moussa Koussa met with A/S Jendayi Frazer and Charge Cameron Hume on the margins of the AU Summit in Khartoum. Shalgam stated that Libya is concerned about tensions between Chad and Sudan, stating, "instability in the region will affect the whole of Sahara and the Sahel." This will encourage terrorism, spur refugee flows, and exacerbate tribal conflicts. Although the African Union (AU) has organs designed to address regional conflict, Libya wants to work with the U.S. "openly, transparently, and frankly." Libya, he said, has "no conflicts with the U.S. in Africa, and it is important for us to "get African states to work together for unity." A/S Frazer thanked him for Libya's interest in coordination, and expressed appreciation for shared visions of strengthening the AU. She noted that areas of most immediate U.S. concern were Darfur, Sudan's east, and relations between Chad and Sudan; furthermore, President Bush, the Secretary, and the Deputy Secretary all were interested in these matters. -------------- -------------- FM: Libya Wishes to Send AU Troops to Chad-Sudan Border -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) FM Shalgam said that Libya is to host a Chad-Sudan reconciliation meeting in early February, focusing on intellectuals, to discuss restoration of the "social fabric" of Chad and Sudan in the "Arabic way." For true reconciliation, however, movement toward a political solution is needed. He added that the Leader (Qadafi) proposes to send 3,000 troops to the Chad-Sudan border, and that libya would need logistical help to do so. ¶4. (C) A/S Frazer asked FM Shalgam where these troops would come from; FM Shalgam suggested that 3,000 of the 7,000 AMIS troops in Darfur could be transferred to the border. They could address the needs for border security, which is important as the "Zaghawa problem exists in both countries." Their conflict may draw "fundamentalists," he asserted. A/S Frazer responded that pulling 3,000 troops from AMIS would spread the remaining forces thinly and undermine their important mission. As it stands, AMIS is already hampered by limits in air transport and communications. -------------- -------------- High Imported Fuel Costs Hit AU: Possible Libyan Solution? -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Charge Hume said that the AU imports fuel for vehicles and aircraft from Dubai at great expense. Could Libya provide it more economically, he asked. FM Shalgam said yes, but noted the problem of fuel smuggling. This could be discussed further, he said, with technical experts working on details. Shalgam also mentioned an upcoming meeting with Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Service Director Ghosh and his interest in meeting with the CIA on "a wide range of topics." This would include the Ethiopian-Eritrean border issue. The Sahelian countries have problems, yet want stability; we can exchange information and assist in making their efforts at stability more successful. -------------- FM Shalgam Emphasizes Libyan-U.S. Cooperation -------------- ¶6. (C) FM Shalgam made a point of underscoring Libyan-U.S. cooperation, noted that Libya had "brought 30 or 35 suspects" involved in counter-terrorism to the attention of the U.S. Furthermore, U.S. oil companies are returning to Libya, Libyan students are attending U.S. schools again, and there KHARTOUM 00000413 002 OF 002 is even talk of military cooperation. -------------- -------------- Libya Does not Plan to Invite Observers to Beja-GNU Talks -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) Charge Hume asked about a role for international observers for upcoming talks between the Beja Congress and the GNU. FM Shalgam responded that the talks would be primarily "social" in nature, and that a readout of the sessions would be provided later. -------------- -------------- FM: Chad Political Situation Complex, May be Another Sudan -------------- -------------- ¶8. (C) A/S Frazer asked for Libya's views on Chadian President Deby. FM Shalgam said that the possibility of a coup attempt remained, particularly as next year's election had raised the third term issue and the matter of a possible constitutional amendment. Chad has more than 60 political parties, he said, largely organized along tribal lines. This may result in a civil war, with Chad becoming "another Sudan." This is made more challenging by the absence of strong institutions in Chad, which he characterized as "one man, one government; one man, one state." No other candidate is emerging, he added, to "prepare to prevent chaos." If the interested parties coordinated, they could be effective. ¶9. (C) FM Shalgam said that Qadafi wished for Libya and the U.S. to expand coordination, as it would benefit both the bilateral relationship and Africa. Stability, progress, and modernization, including advancement of women, are important objectives, he said. -------------- -------------- FM: Darfur Conflict Social in Origin, Role in Gov't Needed -------------- -------------- ¶10. (C) A/S Frazer asked how Libya sees the recent Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) merger. FM Shalgam said that the origins of the Darfur conflict are social. "They are our friends; we know them all," he added, "and we are the only country having contact with all of them." The Libya-Chad border is long, he said, and some of the rebels are in Libya now. Darfurians need to participate in the central government, yet need to be patient in the political negotiating process. -------------- -------------- FM: Eritrea Right, but Inflexible and Antagonistic -------------- -------------- ¶11. (C) In response to A/S Frazer's inquiry about Eritrea, FM Shalgam said that Eritrea was "legally right" regarding the border situation with Ethiopia, and that the latter should accept the verdict. In discussions, he had found Ethiopian Prime Minster Meles to be more flexible on the matter than Eritrean President Isaias. After all, he added, "blood is more important than oil." He referred to the disputed territory along the border as "a few hundred meters of rocks," which was nothing compared to the two million square kilometers involved with Libya had its dispute with Chad over the Aozou "tribal area" years ago. Eritrea has shown little flexibility, he noted, and was "against everybody," not just Ethiopia, but previously Yemen and Sudan. -------------- -------------- FM: Eritrea has Role in Sudan's East and in Darfur -------------- -------------- ¶12. (C) A/S Frazer asked about Eritrea's role in Sudan's east. FM Shalgam responded that Eritrea was important to the Beja, but also to rebel groups in Darfur, such as Abdel Wahid's SLA faction. Libya will discuss Eritrea's role in discussions with NISS Director Ghosh in the near future, "brainstorming on a range of topics." ¶13. (U) A/S Frazer approved this message. STEINFELD