PRESIDENT DEBY CLARIFIES POSITION ON REFUGEES AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L NDJAMENA 000544 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICAWATCHERS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2007 TAGS: ECON EFIN ENRG EPET PGOV PREL CD PREF SUBJECT: PRESIDENT DEBY CLARIFIES POSITION ON REFUGEES AND OIL REF: NDJAMENA 482 Classified By: DCM LUCY TAMLYN FOR REASONS 1.4(D) 1.(C) Summary: President Deby requested to see Ambassador Wall April 15 to clarify that he would not expel the Sudanese refugees, but could not guarantee their security if agreement was not reached at the Abuja-based Darfur peace talks. Stating unequivocally "it's our money," he appeared bent on seeing the April 18 stop order of oil production by the ExxonMobil-led oil consortium implemented. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Ambassador Wall met with President Deby at his request on April 15. Also present were President Deby's new wife, Hinda Itno, and DCM (notetaker). The meeting took place at one of the President's private residences some distance away from the Presidential Palace. After courtesies, Ambassador Wall noted the successful defense of N'djamena against a rebel foray April 13. Ambassador Wall stated that Washington was deeply troubled by the current turn of events in Chad. President Deby responded that he had sent a letter to President Bush asking for understanding of Chad's predicament. He explained that he was obliged to take a series of measures in response to Khartoum's efforts since 2005 to cause problems in Chad. In this context, he told the Ambassador that a convoy of 60 Sudan-supported rebel vehicles had crossed the border and was making its way to Abeche. Security for Sudanese Refugees -------------- ¶3. (C) President Deby explained that he had spoken repeatedly to the international community, but the international community had failed to respond. A small country such as Chad could not at the same time face an armed invasion as well as shelter refugees. He noted that Chad sought to comply with its international commitments, but that it simply could not guarantee the security of the Sudanese refugees under the current circumstances. He explained that he wanted to clarify his earlier statements. He was not expelling them in June, but progress needed to be made in Abuja. He continued to make the case for Sudan's complicity, pointing out that some 50 percent of the rebels captured in N'djamena last week were Sudanese. ¶4. (C) Ambassador Wall explained that the United States was working on a joint demarche asking Sudan to cease fostering instability. He noted that the United States had publicly condemned any efforts to seize power by use of force, and noted that we would not recognize a government that had done so. Ambassador Wall explained that the United States was leading an intensive international effort to bring in UN peacekeepers. Returning to the refugee situation, Ambassador Wall asked the President to clarify what would happen to the refugees if there was insufficient progress at the Abuja talks or on UN rehatting by June 31. The President emphasized the difficulties of having to both fight off invasion, as well as support refugees. In her one intervention during the meeting, Hinda Itno said clearly: "We will not send them out. But we cannot guarantee their security." Threat to Shut Down Oil Production -------------- ¶5. (C) The Ambassador raised the President's recent statement that he would order the ExxonMobil-led oil consortium to stop oil production on Tuesday, April 18, if Esso did not begin re-directing Chad's royalty payments to a Chad government account. In response, President Deby stated unequivocally that this was not a topic for discussion. The money belonged to the Chadian people. He dismissed the point that shutting oil production would also stop future tax payments. Chad could live without oil. Ambassador Wall reiterated as he had in his earlier meeting with the President (reftel) that the United States wanted to see an agreement worked out which would conform to the commitments undertaken by the World Bank and Chad. President Deby responded that "we are not cowboys -- but the World Bank has pushed our back to the wall." ¶6. (C) In an impromptu meeting with French Ambassador Bercot in the President's waiting room, Ambassador Bercot expressed concern that "the situation" was becoming more radicalized. He told Ambassador Wall that a French-funded researcher had concluded that 80 percent of Chadians did not actually care who was President. More important to their lives were the Governor, the Prefet, the Sous Prefet, and the local Police Chief. Comment ¶7. (C) President Deby appeared relaxed and confident, having just returned from a campaign rally. He took pains to assuage concerns about any plans to expel the Sudanese refugees. He nonetheless used the issue to highlight fears of violence from Darfur spreading into Chad and threatening security in the camps. He was unyielding on his threat to shut down oil production, an issue driven by his desperate need to raise funds to pay for his fight against his enemies in eastern Chad. WALL