SRSG PRONK DISCUSSES EAST SUDAN WITH ERITREAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000661 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2016 TAGS: PREL ER SU SUBJECT: SRSG PRONK DISCUSSES EAST SUDAN WITH ERITREAN PRESIDENT Classified By: PolChief Eric Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On March 14, Poloff spoke with Judith Goetz, UN Political Officer, who confirmed that on March 13, Special Representative for the Secretary General of the UN, Jan Pronk, along with Sr. Political Advisor Taye Zerihoun, met with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki in Massawa, Eritrea, to re-energize the negotiations between the Sudanese Government and the Eastern Front. Goetz said the Isaias attacked the GNU by saying it was not serious about negotiating with the Eastern Front because it failed to address the root causes of the East Sudan problem. Although Pronk was scheduled to meet with the Eastern Front leadership in Asmara, they failed to appear. ¶2. (C) Comment: This is the second time within the past six months that Eastern Front leaders have failed to appear for a meeting with the UN, even though the event was confirmed the day before. HUME