SUDAN -- URGENT DEMARCHE IN ADVANCE OF ARAB LEAGUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 001282 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL SU KPKO FR SUBJECT: SUDAN -- URGENT DEMARCHE IN ADVANCE OF ARAB LEAGUE MEETING REF: STATE 32841 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor Josiah Rosenblatt for reaso ns 1.4 (B & D). ¶1. (C) Pol/MC discussed AMIS re-hatting (ref) with MFA Africa Bureau PDAS Elisabeth Barbier March 1. Barbier fully concurred with our analysis of the current situation, and undertook to review what the French might be able to do in support of the demarches we are making in Tripoli, Cairo and elsewhere -- in the lead-up to the March 4 meeting of Arab League foreign ministers. ¶2. (C) Barbier said the postponement of the AU's PSC meeting to March 10 reflects the Sudanese Government's ongoing efforts to dissuade its African partners from moving quickly on re-hatting. That said, the GOF still believes the PSC will take a decision on March 10, one which agrees to re-hatting, but attaches a number of conditions, including tying it to progress in Abuja, and requiring an important African role in the UN peacekeeping operation. Barbier commented that among the arguments the Sudanese (and likely the Libyans) are making is that a UN force (i.e. international intervention) could turn Sudan into the next Iraq. ¶3. (C) Barbier noted that during the Sudanese Secretary of State's visit to Paris on Monday, Feb. 27, GOS opposition to re-hatting had come through, but the Sudanese had referred to proposals, "new ideas", they have shared with the U.S. Barbier said the French Embassy's Africa-Watcher in Washington had been asked to seek information about such purported Sudanese proposals. Action request: Please let us know if there is anything Embassy might share with the MFA on this score. Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm Stapleton