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.

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Arab League Can
Be Helpful
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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."

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Bashir's Advisors
Part of the Problem
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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