Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06USUNNEWYORK2282
2006-12-22 20:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USUN New York
Cable title:
SE NATSIOS' MEETING WITH DPKO USYG GUEHENNO
how-toVZCZCXRO2951 PP RUEHROV DE RUCNDT #2282/01 3562055 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 222055Z DEC 06 FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1025 INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 0385 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 002282
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF S/E NATSIOS, IO A/S
SILVERBERG, NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER UNSC SU KPKO
SUBJECT: SE NATSIOS' MEETING WITH DPKO USYG GUEHENNO
REF: KHARTOUM 02890
Classified By: Ambassador Alejandro D. Wolff, per 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 002282
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF S/E NATSIOS, IO A/S
SILVERBERG, NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER UNSC SU KPKO
SUBJECT: SE NATSIOS' MEETING WITH DPKO USYG GUEHENNO
REF: KHARTOUM 02890
Classified By: Ambassador Alejandro D. Wolff, per 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: During a December 21 meeting with Special
Envoy Andrew Natsios, UN DPKO U/SYG Jean Marie Guehenno
expressed skepticism that Sudanese President Bashir would
provide a wholly forthcoming and constructive response to SYG
Annan's letter outlining specific steps the Government of
Sudan (GOS) must take to implement the Addis/Abuja framework.
Guehenno and his deputies, who had received an initial
readout following UN Special Envoy Ould Abdallah's December
21 meeting with President Bashir, predicted that the Sudanese
response would stop short of a full and unambiguous embrace
of the third phase of the Addis/Abuja framework in all its
details. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) UN Participants: DPKO U/SYG Jean Marie Guehenno, DPKO
Deputy Hedi Annabi, DPKO Africa Director Dimitri Titov, UN
notetaker. USG Participants: Special Envoy Andrew Natsios,
Chief of Staff Envoy Andrew Steinfeld, USUN Poloff
(notetaker).
--------------
Guehenno: Bashir Playing
the Same Games
--------------
3. (C) Guehenno and Annabi opened the meeting with a readout
of the initial reports coming from UN Special Envoy Ould
Abdallah's December 21 meeting with President Bashir
(reftel). Ould Abdallah reported that Bashir appeared ready
to implement phases one and two (UN light and heavy support
for AMIS) and accept some blue helmeted forces. President
Bashir, however, had not committed unambiguously to accepting
a AU/UN hybrid command or given up his quibbling on the size
of the peacekeeping force. Annabi reported that Bashir had
repeated his demand for a new UNSC resolution before phase
three of the Addis/Abuja framework is implemented.
4. (C) Repeating concerns DPKO raised previously on the
importance of political clarity and Sudanese acceptance of
all three phases of the Addis/Abuja framework, Guehenno said
the prospect of an ambiguous Sudanese response to SYG Annan's
letter concerned him because it would create uncertainty in
the UNSC and prevent progress on the ground. If DPKO
"deploys support to AMIS without the necessary muscle, the
end result will be an incomplete force with bad troops."
Likewise, force generation will be a problem as member states
will balk at contributing the necessary military assets
without the guarantee of UN protection.
5. (C) Natsios acknowledged these concerns, commenting that
the U.S. would have to consider its options should President
Bashir continue his policy of hindering the deployment of an
effective peacekeeping force. With regard to how to respond
to Bashir, Guehenno acknowledged the importance of all the
stakeholders staying on message to pressure the GOS, while
noting that SYG Annan would likely want a positive spin in
his last days in office.
--------------
Cease-fire Prospects
--------------
6. (C) Annabi reported that Bashir expressed deep skepticism
to Ould Abdallah about the utility of a cease-fire given the
proliferation of new rebel groups. Bashir reportedly blamed
escalating violence in Darfur on the National Redemption
Front (NRF) and Chadian interference. Ould Abdallah reported
that Bashir had commented that the GOS would accept a
cease-fire if NRF forces withdrew from areas they have seized
from the SAF and SLA/Minawi.
--------------
The Aprezi Problem
--------------
7. (C) Guehenno criticized AMIS Commander Aprezi, commenting
that it is clear that "Bashir is using him" to hinder UN
assistance to AMIS. Natsios agreed, commenting that the
reports of internal strife within the AMIS chain of command
are increasingly disturbing. Annabi interjected that
Nigerian President Obasanjo had committed to replacing
Aprezi, but had not yet taken any action. Natsios commented
that a Rwandan commander would be preferable, given the
superior contribution of Rwandan forces to AMIS.
USUN NEW Y 00002282 002 OF 002
8. (U) SE Natsios' staff cleared this message.
WOLFF
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF S/E NATSIOS, IO A/S
SILVERBERG, NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/22/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER UNSC SU KPKO
SUBJECT: SE NATSIOS' MEETING WITH DPKO USYG GUEHENNO
REF: KHARTOUM 02890
Classified By: Ambassador Alejandro D. Wolff, per 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: During a December 21 meeting with Special
Envoy Andrew Natsios, UN DPKO U/SYG Jean Marie Guehenno
expressed skepticism that Sudanese President Bashir would
provide a wholly forthcoming and constructive response to SYG
Annan's letter outlining specific steps the Government of
Sudan (GOS) must take to implement the Addis/Abuja framework.
Guehenno and his deputies, who had received an initial
readout following UN Special Envoy Ould Abdallah's December
21 meeting with President Bashir, predicted that the Sudanese
response would stop short of a full and unambiguous embrace
of the third phase of the Addis/Abuja framework in all its
details. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) UN Participants: DPKO U/SYG Jean Marie Guehenno, DPKO
Deputy Hedi Annabi, DPKO Africa Director Dimitri Titov, UN
notetaker. USG Participants: Special Envoy Andrew Natsios,
Chief of Staff Envoy Andrew Steinfeld, USUN Poloff
(notetaker).
--------------
Guehenno: Bashir Playing
the Same Games
--------------
3. (C) Guehenno and Annabi opened the meeting with a readout
of the initial reports coming from UN Special Envoy Ould
Abdallah's December 21 meeting with President Bashir
(reftel). Ould Abdallah reported that Bashir appeared ready
to implement phases one and two (UN light and heavy support
for AMIS) and accept some blue helmeted forces. President
Bashir, however, had not committed unambiguously to accepting
a AU/UN hybrid command or given up his quibbling on the size
of the peacekeeping force. Annabi reported that Bashir had
repeated his demand for a new UNSC resolution before phase
three of the Addis/Abuja framework is implemented.
4. (C) Repeating concerns DPKO raised previously on the
importance of political clarity and Sudanese acceptance of
all three phases of the Addis/Abuja framework, Guehenno said
the prospect of an ambiguous Sudanese response to SYG Annan's
letter concerned him because it would create uncertainty in
the UNSC and prevent progress on the ground. If DPKO
"deploys support to AMIS without the necessary muscle, the
end result will be an incomplete force with bad troops."
Likewise, force generation will be a problem as member states
will balk at contributing the necessary military assets
without the guarantee of UN protection.
5. (C) Natsios acknowledged these concerns, commenting that
the U.S. would have to consider its options should President
Bashir continue his policy of hindering the deployment of an
effective peacekeeping force. With regard to how to respond
to Bashir, Guehenno acknowledged the importance of all the
stakeholders staying on message to pressure the GOS, while
noting that SYG Annan would likely want a positive spin in
his last days in office.
--------------
Cease-fire Prospects
--------------
6. (C) Annabi reported that Bashir expressed deep skepticism
to Ould Abdallah about the utility of a cease-fire given the
proliferation of new rebel groups. Bashir reportedly blamed
escalating violence in Darfur on the National Redemption
Front (NRF) and Chadian interference. Ould Abdallah reported
that Bashir had commented that the GOS would accept a
cease-fire if NRF forces withdrew from areas they have seized
from the SAF and SLA/Minawi.
--------------
The Aprezi Problem
--------------
7. (C) Guehenno criticized AMIS Commander Aprezi, commenting
that it is clear that "Bashir is using him" to hinder UN
assistance to AMIS. Natsios agreed, commenting that the
reports of internal strife within the AMIS chain of command
are increasingly disturbing. Annabi interjected that
Nigerian President Obasanjo had committed to replacing
Aprezi, but had not yet taken any action. Natsios commented
that a Rwandan commander would be preferable, given the
superior contribution of Rwandan forces to AMIS.
USUN NEW Y 00002282 002 OF 002
8. (U) SE Natsios' staff cleared this message.
WOLFF