SE NATSIOS' MEETING WITH ARAB LEAGUE AMBASSADOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 001944 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO, PRM E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER UNSC SU KPKO SUBJECT: SE NATSIOS' MEETING WITH ARAB LEAGUE AMBASSADOR Classified By: Ambassador John R. Bolton for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During an October 5 meeting in New York with Arab League Ambassador Yahya Mahmassani, Special Presidential Envoy for the Sudan Andrew Natsios urged the Arab League to use its influence over the Government of Sudan (GOS) to persuade President Bashir to accept the UN Peacekeeping force in Darfur. Mahmassani said he believes the GOS is beginning to show flexibility on the issue of UN deployment. Mahmassani urged the US not to take a "threatening posture" with Bashir and argued that the Arab League and Arab leaders are the most effective intermediaries with the GOS. END SUMMARY. -------------- Arab League Can Be Helpful -------------- ¶2. (C) Natsios opened the meeting by commenting that the USG is appreciative of the positive role SYG Amr Moussa is playing in persuading President Bashir to back down from his confrontational response to UNSCR 1706. Mahmassani responded with an upbeat assessment of Moussa's October 2 meeting with President Bashir, who he described as "ready to show greater flexibility" on the peacekeeping force. ¶3. (C) Mahmassani emphasized that the Arab League is ready to work with the US regarding Sudan, but cautioned that it would be important to move "away from threats and towards the language of cooperation and persuasion." Mahmassani made the case for greater Arab League involvement in the political process, commenting, "The Sudanese listen to the Arab League and Arab leaders in ways they don't listen to others." Likewise, he argued that the Arab League can move forward on the diplomatic front "faster than the Security Council." -------------- Bashir's Advisors Part of the Problem -------------- ¶4. (C) Natsios responded that it was important for Bashir to understand that the US is not interested in renegotiating UNSCR 1706 or the DPA. The USG and the international community cannot accept Sudanese defiance indefinitely. Mahmassani responded, "The people advising Bashir are part of the problem." The Arab League can play a positive role by counterbalancing this negative influence and by emphasizing that resolving the Darfur conflict is "good for Sudan first and the world second." ¶5. (C) Natsios closed the meeting by explaining that, in addition to pushing the Sudanese to accept a UN deployment in Darfur, he planned to look for ways to address the underlying development problems, regional inequities, and finding ways to compensate those who have suffered displacement and loss of property. Mahmassani praised this approach saying, "It's good that you understand the culture there." ¶6. (C) Special Envoy Andrew Natsios, staff cleared this message. BOLTON