Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06USUNNEWYORK1599
2006-08-22 00:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USUN New York
Cable title:  

STATE OF PLAY ON NEGOTIATIONS ON UK-US DARFUR

Tags:  PGOV PREL SU UNSC KPKO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6771
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUCNDT #1599/01 2340002
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 220002Z AUG 06
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9931
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0953
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0709
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0345
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001599 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL SU UNSC KPKO
SUBJECT: STATE OF PLAY ON NEGOTIATIONS ON UK-US DARFUR
RESOLUTION


Classified By: Ambassador John R. Bolton for Reasons 1.4 (b,d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001599

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL SU UNSC KPKO
SUBJECT: STATE OF PLAY ON NEGOTIATIONS ON UK-US DARFUR
RESOLUTION


Classified By: Ambassador John R. Bolton for Reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (U) This is an action request. See Paragraph 3.


2. (C) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. This cable outlines the
views of key Security Council delegations on the UK-U.S.
draft resolution authorizing the transition from an African
Union (AU)-led to a UN-led force in Darfur. Russia, China
and France remain firmly opposed to selected language
proposed by the Department, jeopardizing the goal of putting
a resolution into blue by August 25. The contested areas
include specification of a transition date and absence of
language on the need for Government of National Unity (GNU)
consent for deployment. In related action, in response to
pressure from several Council members on the need to secure
GNU consent, Ghanaian Permanent Representative (and current
UNSC President) Effah-Apenteng sought approval August 21 to
hold a Security Council meeting on August 28 including
participants from the GNU, Arab League, Organization of the
Islamic Conference and the EU. ACTION REQUEST: In order to
win Council support for our draft resolution, USUN requests
the Department's urgent review of these issues. Receipt of
updated guidance August 22 will enable USUN to engage
effectively with other delegations, who are scheduled to
present formal instructions from capitals on the draft
resolution during an expert's meeting Tuesday. END SUMMARY
AND ACTION REQUEST.

DATE OF TRANSITION
--------------


3. (C) USUN's ongoing consultations with SC delegations
indicate that Russia, China and France all oppose a specific
mention of a date of transition in the draft resolution. To
amplify, Russia does not simply oppose a reference to an
October 1 transition date; Moscow opposes reference to any
date for transition. The Russian delegation has told USUN
and the UK mission in New York that this issue is a 'red
line.' Russia has proposed as an alternative the phrase, 'as
soon as possible,' arguing that inclusion of a date will
further complicate efforts to secure GNU support for UN

deployment. China supports the Russian position. France, on
the other hand, objects to the use of 'October 1' because the
date coincides with the beginning of the French fiscal year
and thus would mean that France is not in a position to meet
its assessed obligation. A further complicating factor is
the opposition of the UN Secretariat to the use of 'October
1.' DPKO has determined that it will take a minimum of six
months to deploy a force of this magnitude and therefore
considers the date unrealistic. Note: Many Council
delegations factor Secretariat views into their
decision-making.

GNU CONSENT
--------------


4. (C) The Russian and Chinese delegations have
unequivocally asserted that they will not support a
resolution authorizing an expansion of the UNMIS mandate to
cover Darfur without operative language on the need for GNU
consent. They are unpersuaded by the USG argument that
language on GNU consent is not mandatory for resolutions
covering mandates. They insist that the likelihood of
garnering GNU consent diminishes significantly if the
resolution on the expansion of the mandate fails to mention
the need for GNU consent for deployment. France and the UK
are flexible on this question. Congo, the current AU Chair,
and Ghana support inclusion of language on consent.

UNSC-GNU MEETING IN NEW YORK
--------------


5. (C) During August 21 UNSC consultations, Ghanaian PR and
current Council President Effah-Apenteng asked for Council
approval to issue letters of invitation for a proposed August
28 UNSC meeting to discuss the Sudan. Effah-Apenteng said he
had discussed the meeting with representatives of the GNU,
the EU, the OIC, and the AL, as well as with SYG Annan. He
reported that the AL and the OIC had responded affirmatively.
(Note: The Arab League's treatment of this issue in Cairo
August 20 was not a factor in Council discussions. End
Note.) The purpose of the proposed August 28 meeting would
be to underscore the exhaustive effort by the Security
Council to engage the GNU on the issue of consent. UK PR
Jones Parry said the scheduling of such a meeting, in light

USUN NEW Y 00001599 002 OF 002


of the dire Darfur situation, should not delay action on the
draft resolution, and recommended the participation of VP
Taha to increase the potential for a positive outcome. In a
conversation with USUN following consultations,
Effah-Apenteng expressed his support for the UK suggestion to
seek Taha's participation, despite his initial outreach to
GNU President Bashir and FM Lam Akol. The UK mission
believes that blocking the meeting risks losing African
support for the draft resolution, support that is already
dangerously waning on the part of Congo as AU Chair. The
Brits argue further that even if the meeting is futile, it is
better for the co-sponsors to appear to exhaust all
diplomatic options. Otherwise, they argue, we risk
alienating the 'middle ground' in the Council and
undercutting support both for swift action and the resolution
itself. Both Ghana and the UK want to issue invitations
immediately to avoid any delay on the resolution.

COMMENT
--------------


6. (C) This message focuses on the positions of the P5 for
obvious reasons. In order to gain P5 support for the UK-U.S.
draft, we urge the Department to seriously review the
language on the transition date and GNU consent. In two
weeks of negotiations among the P5 in New York, complemented
by demarches in capitals and senior USG outreach, we have
been unable to gain ground on these issues. Flexibility on
the proposed August 28 meeting is also important for the New
York negotiating dynamic. We and the UK mission in New York
are planning to brief delegations with influence over the GNU
(e.g. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Senegal, Rwanda, Turkey,
South Africa, the African Union, Congo, Tanzania, Ghana,
Libya, Tunisia the LAS),as well as representatives of the
NGO community, on August 23, to build momentum for adopting
the draft resolution.
BOLTON