PRC URGES USG TO CONVINCE U.S. CONGRESS, MEDIA AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 005793 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC KPKO SU CH SUBJECT: PRC URGES USG TO CONVINCE U.S. CONGRESS, MEDIA AND PEOPLE TO STOP LINKING DARFUR TO THE OLYMPICS (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. Not for internet distribution. ¶1. (SBU) The U.S. Government should engage the American people, Congress and media and urge them to stop politicizing the Darfur issue and linking it to the Olympics, Assistant Foreign Minister Affairs Zhai Jun says in an August 31 letter to AF Assistant Secretary Frazer. The letter, delivered to the DCM by Deputy Director General for West Asian and North African Affairs Song Aiguo on September 4, says great progress has been made in Sudan, citing the adoption of UNSC Resolution 1769 and the meeting of rebel groups in Arusha, Tanzania, and conveys AFM Zhai's view that "the Darfur situation is moving in a direction of resolution." Noting that the Darfur issue is too complicated to solve overnight, the letter expresses Chinese commitment to continuing cooperation and coordination with the United States. ¶2. (SBU) The text of the MFA-provided English translation of AFM Zhai's letter follows below. Post will send the original Chinese-language version to EAP/CM via pouch. Begin letter: 31 August 2007 The Honorable Jendayi E. Frazer Assistant Secretary of State of the United States of America Washington D.C. Dear Madam Assistant Secretary, I was glad to receive your letter and wish to thank you for your hospitality extended to me and my colleagues during our visit to the United States last March. We had an in-depth exchange of views on the Darfur issue, which helped us better understand each other's position. I wish to stay in close touch with you on issues of mutual interest. As you know, encouraging progress has been made on the Darfur issue since our meeting. The Sudanese Government reached agreement with the United Nations and the African Union in April and June on the second and third phases of the Annan Plan through dialogue and consultation on an equal footing. The Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1769 on 31 July 2007 on authorizing the deployment of the hybrid mission in Darfur, marking an important step towards resolving the Darfur issue. The UN and the AU have drawn up a road map for advancing political process in Darfur. Responding to the initiative of the UN and the AU, many opposition groups in Darfur met in Arusha, Tanzania, early this month and reached agreement on implementing the road map and starting negotiations with the government as soon as possible. My view is that the Darfur situation is moving in a direction of resolution. This is the result of coordination and joint efforts of China, the United States and the entire international community. I am sure you will agree with the view that the Darfur issue cannot be resolved overnight, as it involves many complicating factors. However, if the international community makes concerted efforts to maintain the current good momentum, gives full play to the role of the consultation mechanism among the Sudanese Government, the UN and the AU as the main channel, sticks to the dual-track strategy, makes balanced progress in the peacekeeping operations and the political process, and provides more humanitarian and development assistance to Darfur, I am sure that the Darfur issue can be resolved. The Chinese Government is committed to resolving the Darfur issue and has made unremitting efforts, contributing to major progress made on the issue. We are making active preparations for sending the multi-functional engineering unit to Darfur. What has caused my deep concern, however, is that some people in the United States are making unwarranted charges against China regarding the Darfur issue. The Darfur issue is neither China's domestic problem, nor China's making, and it is absolutely unacceptable to link the Darfur issue with the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The attempt to politicize the Olympic Games runs counter to the Olympic spirit and is detrimental to the interests of the American people and people of the whole world. I hope that you and the U.S. government will appreciate what China has done, engage the U.S. Congress, the general public and the media and urge them to view China's constructive role on the Darfur issue in an objective and fair manner. This will help strengthen the coordination and cooperation between our two BEIJING 00005793 002 OF 002 countries as we work to resolve the Darfur issue. China's Special Representative on Darfur will soon visit the United States. China will continue to work with the United States and the rest of the international community to bring about an early solution to the Darfur issue. With warm regards, Zhai Jun Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China End Text of Letter. Randt