CHINESE AND RUSSIAN PERMREPS TELL NATSIOS TO TAKE

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 001936 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2006 TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC SU SUBJECT: CHINESE AND RUSSIAN PERMREPS TELL NATSIOS TO TAKE QUIET APPROACH ON SUDAN REF: USUN 1911 Classified By: Ambassador John R. Bolton, Permanent Representative, for reasons 1.4 b,d. ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In an October 4 visit to the United Nations, Special Envoy for the Sudan Andrew Natsios met separately with the Permanent Representatives of the PRC and Russia. Both envoys welcomed Natsios' role and broader mission, taking the opportunity to urge the USG not to pursue sanctions or aggressive Security Council statements against the Government of Sudan. Rather, the two missions argued the USG should work quietly to persuade the Sudanese that accepting a UN peacekeeping force in Darfur is in their best interest. The Russian PermRep specifically cited the pursuit of war crimes against Sudanese officials as a potentially counterproductive measure. END SUMMARY. -------------- --- China: We All Agree on Solution; Tactics Differ -------------- --- ¶2. (C) PRC PermRep AMB Wang Guangya highlighted the October 5 UNSC consultations (a private meeting of Security Council Permreps) called in reaction to diplomatic note threatening potential troop contributing countries as an example of differences between the USG and PRC approach to the GOS. AMB Wang noted that he had also been surprised and upset by the Sudanese letter (reftel). In response, he said he had approached the UNSC President, (currently Japan) to clarify discrepancies between the threatening letter originating at the Sudanese Mission in New York and a positive response detailing the UN assistance package for AMIS from President Bashir received by UNSYG Annan on October 3. AMB Wang said he had advised the Japanese PermRep, AMB Oshima, to take the Sudanese PermRep aside and discuss this issue in private. AMB Wang contrasted the PRC,s low key approach towards Sudan with the USG approach and others and encouraged the USG to refrain from &making a big show in the Security Council.8 ¶3. (C) Natsios responded that it was important to take both a hard and a quiet approach with the Sudanese Government and President Bashir, noting that the Sudanese had already begun to disassociate themselves from the threatening letter to troop contributing countries following the SC consultations. Natsios then described his vision for a solution combining both humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping troops to the situation in Darfur. AMB Wang praised this approach, commenting that this approach would accomplish more than applying sanctions against specific individuals in the Sudanese government. Highlighting the PRC's cooperative relationship with the Sudanese, Natsios asked Wang to convey the imperative for quick implementation of UNSCR 1706. -------------- -------------- Russia: Pursuing War Would Undermine Peace Effort -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) In a brief meeting with Russian PermRep Vitaly Churkin, Natsios outlined his plan for expanded activities related to Darfur. Citing "cautious progress" as demonstrated by President Bashir's October 3 letter, Churkin said that while there are complaints about "minor points," there is still agreement on the overall principle that peacekeepers should be deployed to Darfur. Churkin advised Natsios to reassure the GOS that UNSCR 1706 does not give peacekeepers a mandate to arrest anyone for crimes against humanity, commenting that avoiding the fate of deceased Serbian leader, Slobodan Milosovich, who died during his trial at the Hague, is likely a priority for the Sudanese leadership. ¶5. (U) This cable has been cleared by SE Natsios' staff. BOLTON