Sudan: Full Court Press Against UN

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000467 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI PINR KPKO UN AU SU SUBJECT: Sudan: Full Court Press Against UN Intervention Continues REF: Khartoum 447 ¶1. The Government of Sudan is continuing its intensive public and diplomatic efforts to oppose UN intervention in Darfur. In addition to a significant media blitz, and the public chastising of SRSG Jan Pronk, the government has pushed in the National Assembly. Foreign Minister Lam Akol addressed the body on February 22, blasting international intervention as a threat to sovereignty and an escalation of the crisis. The Assembly then passed a resolution expressing opposition to any foreign involvement in Darfur. The resolution was reported to be unanimous, although members of several parties, including the SPLM, insisted on verbiage that highlighted a negotiated peace in Abuja as the best means to avert foreign interference. The other legislative body, the Council of States, is currently considering an emergency session to address the same issue. ¶2. The press also reported that President Omar al-Bashir called Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to discuss Darfur. Iranian Vice President Ahmed Musavi used a meeting with the new Sudanese ambassador in Tehran to express his desire for Sudan and Iran to collaborate in order to resist Western interference in Muslim nations. In Algiers, Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa declared that the African Union and the Arab League are the appropriate fora to resolve this crisis; the Arab League Summit will be held in Khartoum at the end of March. The Sudanese also registered their opposition with the visiting British Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn. ¶3. Additionally, a major aspect of the government strategy for preventing UN rehatting has involved outreach to civil society and other political parties. Assistant to the President and Deputy Chair of the National Congress Party (NCP) Nafie Ali Nafie held a meeting with parties within the government to develop an opposition strategy. Meanwhile, a newspaper reported that Vice President Ali Osman Taha plans to reach out to opposition party leader Hassan al-Turabi to develop a unified Islamic front. Turabi, who is reportedly associated with the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in Darfur, has dismissed the possibility of a meeting. The Sudanese Popular Organization Defending Creed and Homeland, a radical fundamentalist Islamic organization with ties to the NCP, has released a statement calling for a strong and united Islamic opposition to international engagement. HUME