Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM923
2006-04-17 08:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

GNU RELATIONS WITH ERITREA AND UNMIS

Tags:  PGOV PHUM UN ER SU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4855
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #0923 1070825
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 170825Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2383
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000923 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM UN ER SU
SUBJECT: GNU RELATIONS WITH ERITREA AND UNMIS


Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Eric Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) an
d (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000923

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/SPG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM UN ER SU
SUBJECT: GNU RELATIONS WITH ERITREA AND UNMIS


Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief Eric Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) an
d (d)


1. (C) Summary: In an April 13 meeting, Deputy National
Congress Party External Relations Officer, Dr. Hassan Haj
Ali, told Poloff that the Sudanese government had &no
official8 objection to Asmara hosting GNU-Eastern Front
negotiations, provided that the bilateral relationship with
Eritrea is normalized. He added that the Eritreans had
selected an ambassador designate to Sudan; however, the GNU
had yet to select its counterpart to Eritrea. According to
UN Political Officer Judith Goetz, on April 12, UN SRSG Pronk
met with Assistant to the President Nafie Ali Nafie to
clarify UNMIS operations in the East. Goetz said that in the
meeting, Nafie told Pronk that Asmara could be a possible
venue for GNU-Eastern Front negotiations. End Summary.

Eritrea and Sudan Relations
--------------


2. (C) On April 13, Poloff spoke with Deputy National
Congress Party (NCP) External Relations Officer Dr. Hassan
Haj Ali about the relationship between Sudan and Eritrea and
prospects for Eastern Front negotiations in Asmara. Dr.
Hassan, originally from Gedaref in Eastern Sudan, is the
deputy for Kamal Obied, the NCP Chairman for the GNU &East
Committee.8 Dr. Hassan said Asmara had nominated Essa
Mohamed Essa as ambassador to Sudan; however, his credentials
have not yet been presented to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. He added that the GNU had not yet designated its
ambassador to Eritrea. According to Dr. Hassan, the Sudanese
government does not have any &official objections8 to
Asmara hosting GNU-Eastern Front negotiations, provided a
normalization of relations between the two countries occurs
prior to negotiations. Dr. Hassan said that on April 12 and
13, an Eritrean delegation of Abdallah Jabir, Yemane Gabreab,
and ambassador-designee Essa Mohamed Essa met with MFA Under
Secretary Mutriff Saddig, SPLM National Assembly Chair Yassir

SIPDIS
Arman, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lam Akol to discuss
normalizing relations.


3. (SBU) Dr. Hassan highlighted the GNU,s recently created
&East Development Program,8 which he said will introduce
basic infrastructure, such as roads, water, and electricity
to the East. He added that GNU was currently searching for
contractors to bid on the development projects.


4. (C) On April 14, following a meeting with the Eritrean
delegation, Yassir Arman confirmed to PolChief that the GNU
and Eritrea had formally agreed to Asmara's hosting
GNU-Eastern Front negotiations and exchanging ambassadors.
However, Arman said that the GNU and Eritrean delegation were
unable to agree to the inclusion of Eritrea in the Abuja
peace talks on Darfur and to re-open their borders to the
passage of goods and persons.

Pronk and Nafie Discuss UNMIS in East
--------------


5. (C) On April 12, after two months of requests for a
meeting, UN SRSG Pronk met with Assistant to the President
Nafie Ali Nafie to discuss a variety of issues, including the
situation in Eastern Sudan. UN Political Officer Judith
Goetz told Poloff that Nafie said that Asmara was a possible
venue for GNU-Eastern Front negotiations; however, no
concrete agreement took place. In discussions with Nafie,
Goetz added that Pronk discussed the Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA),a bilateral agreement between the Sudanese
government and UNMIS that allows access for humanitarian
assistance without obstruction or impediments. Goetz said,
according to the government, the SOFA only applies to the
UNMIS mission and not other UN agencies. Pronk told Nafie
that the SOFA agreement applied to all UN agencies under the
control of UNMIS, regardless of the date of the establishment
of the agency's arrival in Sudan. According to Goetz, Nafie
said that he was unaware of a problem with the SOFA, but
commented that this problem was the result of local people
protesting the presence of the UN in the East.
STEINFELD