DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON AU MEMBERS AND UN TRANSITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L MASERU 000307

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR AF/S

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/29/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO PINS SOCI SU LT
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON AU MEMBERS AND UN TRANSITION

REF: STATE 105710

CLASSIFIED BY: June Carter Perry, Ambassador, EXEC , STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (C) Per reftel, AMB met with Acting Minister of Foreign
Affairs Ntsinyi (Minister of Tourism, Culture and
Environment/Deputy Secretary of the Ruling LCD Party) concerning
the moment of truth for the African Union (AU). Ambassador
reinforced the point that the African countries cannot let
Bashir's rhetoric stop them from moving forward; this is a time
for AU members to stand up and take the action necessary to end
the genocide in Sudan. She also reminded the Acting Foreign
Minister of the June 27agreement to address this issue and the
possibility of sanctions. Furthermore, she shared the current
numbers concerning new base camps (18) and troop levels (5,000
to 6,000),but also indicated that AMIS donors will continue to
address this during the July 18 Bashir summit.


2. (C) The Acting Foreign Minister agreed strongly with our
position stating the AU must be firmly against Bashir's
arguments. She added that the Foreign Ministers will be
discussing this very issue at the AU Conference in Banjul. She
reiterated support for our position and UNSCR 1679. We
discussed further the issue of genocide and Ambassador noted
that the Acting Foreign Minister had served as Lesotho's envoy
to Germany and was well aware of the genocide that took place
there in the 1940's. We could not let such a thing happen to
other people regardless of race or religion. She concurred
completely and said that, especially after Rwanda, it was an
international responsiblity to act quickly to stop the
destruction of human lives in Darfur.


3. (C) Minister Ntsinyi wanted to make the point that Africans
should not always expect donors to pull them out of difficult
situations, that they must take on their responsibilities and
demonstrate more self reliance. In this case, she agreed that
it was absolutely necessary to act within the context of the
international community and to have a Blue-Hatted force in
Sudan. She cited a problem of financial security facing the
Africans, the southern and eastern African countries seemed to
be the only ones paying AU fees on a regular basis. She brought
to the Ambassador's attention the fact that Lesotho has
consistently sent peacekeeping forces to the AMIS mission in
Darfur. The Ambassador encouraged Minister Ntsinyi to make sure
Lesotho's voice was heard in the AU. The Minister responded
that she was not sure how much influence Lesotho could have, but
the Ambassador encouraged her to press forward especially as
Lesotho will be taking on the SADC chairmanship. Certainly,
there is more global attention to Lesotho than there has been in
the past and its profile has heightened. Ambassador suggested
that with greater leadership possibilities before it, now is the
time for Lesotho to speak firmly and loudly on the heinous
situation in Darfur and to support the international community's
efforts. Ntsinyi said that, indeed, Lesotho would voice its
opinion, that movement must take place right away and that AU
members must not cave in to Bashir. She promised to communicate
the U.S. position to Lesotho's representatives at the AU
Conference.

PERRY