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.

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Libya Seeks to Address Regional Instability with the U.S.
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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.

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FM: Libya Wishes to Send AU Troops to Chad-Sudan Border
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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.

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High Imported Fuel Costs Hit AU: Possible Libyan Solution?
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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.

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FM Shalgam Emphasizes Libyan-U.S. Cooperation
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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

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is even talk of military cooperation.

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Libya Does not Plan to Invite Observers to Beja-GNU Talks
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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.

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FM: Chad Political Situation Complex, May be Another Sudan
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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.

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FM: Darfur Conflict Social in Origin, Role in Gov't Needed
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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.

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FM: Eritrea Right, but Inflexible and Antagonistic
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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.

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FM: Eritrea has Role in Sudan's East and in Darfur
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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