DAS GRAY ENGAGES MFA ON SUDAN, UN REFORM

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 001675 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG - HARRIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/04/2016 TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO PINS SOCI SU TS SUBJECT: DAS GRAY ENGAGES MFA ON SUDAN, UN REFORM REF: STATE 105710 Classified By: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM HUDSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d) ¶1. (C) During his June 28 meeting with Tunisian Deputy Foreign Minister for the Americas and Asia Saida Chtioui, NEA Deputy Assistant Secretary Gordon Gray, accompanied by Ambassador, raised reftel demarche on the transition of AMIS to a United Nations peacekeeping operation (PKO) in Darfur. Chtioui said that she would convey the information to Foreign Minister Abdelwaheb Abdallah, who will represent Tunisia at the upcoming African Union (AU) Summit. Gray also asked Tunisia to consider contributing troops to a U.N. PKO in Sudan. Chtioui said that Tunisia is committed to U.N. PKOs throughout Africa, but asked if the U.S. thought it was a good idea for Arab soldiers to be part of the Darfur mission. (NOTE: Numerous GOT officials have told us that Tunisia is unwilling to contribute troops to Darfur peacekeeping for a variety of reasons, including conflicting AU and Arab League positions on the conflict. END NOTE.) ¶2. (C/NF) Chtioui asked for clarification about the USG position on Security Council reforms. Gray explained that the USG is focusing on concrete management reform in the short term, noting that immediate needs had to be addressed now before the international community could focus on Security Council expansion. Chtioui agreed that management reforms were a priority but also raised GOT concerns with the recent attempt to enlarge the Security Council membership for the European, Asian, and American continents without taking into account African concerns. She noted that it was unfair to marginalize the entire continent of Africa to have others around the world offer solutions to African problems. The GOT believes that if Africa does not benefit from an enlargement plan then the Security Council should remain as it is. ¶3. (U) Gray cleared this message. HUDSON