LIU GUIJIN: U.S. VISIT A SUCCESS; DISCUSSES SUDAN,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 006158 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC KPKO SU CH ZI ET SUBJECT: LIU GUIJIN: U.S. VISIT A SUCCESS; DISCUSSES SUDAN, ZIMBABWE, ETHIOPIA AT SEPT 18 PRESS CONFERENCE ¶1. (U) Summary: PRC Special Envoy for Darfur Liu Guijin described his recent trip to the United States as a success that resulted in increased understanding of China's Darfur policies at a September 18 press briefing. In response to questions, he said that the security situation in Darfur is improving, but still complex. China is ready to send 315 engineers to the region once "technical delays" are resolved and has provided large amounts of additional aid. There are multiple stumbling blocks in advance of the October 24 peace negotiations, including ongoing negotiations regarding which rebel leaders will attend. China is willing to attend the negotiations if asked, but does not anticipate that it will. China feels that funding is the single largest obstacle to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1769 establishing the UNAMID peacekeeping force. The Chinese government does not plan to contact Khartoum directly, as it has not been asked to do so by the UN or the African Union. Additional Press Conference -------------- ¶2. (U) Following the normal twice-weekly MFA press conference on September 18 (attended by PolOff),the MFA announced that Chinese Special Envoy for Darfur Liu Guijin would address the press to debrief his early-September trip to the United States. ¶3. (U) Liu explained that during the seven working days of his September 1-11 trip to the United States, he met with high-level American officials, including Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos (D-CA),Congressional Black Caucus member Don Paine (D-NJ),Senate Democratic Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL) and other members of Congress, as well as UN officials such as Under Secretary General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe and Assistant Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Hedi Annabi. He met with members of the Save Darfur NGO and attended a Center for Strategic and International Studies-sponsored event where he met with scholars and experts on Darfur. ¶4. (U) Liu described his trip as a success, saying that he achieved his goal of increasing understanding with U.S. officials and Congress. He said that he "removed differences" that existed between China on the one hand and NGOs and the media on the other, and stated that U.S. officials and the UN "applauded" China's positive and constructive role. His visit to the United States coincided with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's visit to Libya, Chad and Darfur, a visit which Liu said "encouraged" him. Security Is Improving, but Situation is Complex -------------- -- ¶5. (U) Asked if he is concerned about an increase in aerial bombings in Darfur, Liu responded that the security situation in Darfur is improving, but problems persist because of ineffective implementation of the ceasefire. The reasons behind this are complex, he said, and include an increase in refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs),especially among black Africans, as well as inter-tribal territorial issues and a tendency toward militarization in refugee camps, where there is relatively easy access to illegal arms. Liu said that these concerns emphasize the need to "redouble our efforts" in Darfur. ¶6. (U) Asked if the declining security situation would impede peace negotiations, Liu explained that the upcoming peace talks are facing a variety of issues, but security is not one of them. He said that while Libya has been chosen for the October 24 peace negotiations, the actual site of the talks is "not yet finalized," and rebel groups, which he prefers to call "political movements," have not yet settled their internal debates on which leaders are "qualified to attend" and able to represent various rebel populations. These problems, rather than security, are the stumbling blocks the peace talks are facing. China to Attend If Asked -------------- ¶7. (U) When asked if China would attend these talks or play the role of "go-between," Liu explained that historically there has been no direct contact between China and the rebel leaders, who are living primarily in European capital cities. However, if China is invited to attend the talks, it will send a representative, but Western officials have indicated that they do not want too many "observers and judges" present during the negotiations. He added that China has played an active role in promoting negotiations between the government BEIJING 00006158 002 OF 003 and rebel leaders. The Heavy Support Package -------------- ¶8. (U) Liu said that many Western journalists met with the 315 multi-function soldier engineers the PRC is sending to Darfur and that were it not for technical delays, they would "already be there." He indicated that after "technical preparations" are complete, the soldiers, the first to be deployed in the region since the passage of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1769, will be deployed. Liu said that many African nations have offered troops in excess of the 19,555 authorized by UNSCR 1769, and as such the process of selecting troops from various countries is ongoing; within that 19,555 will be 360 "liaison officers and military observers." When asked if China is willing to send combat troops, Liu said that if asked the Chinese government would consider it, but now is not the time to discuss the matter. ¶9. (U) Asked if China is sending other aid besides the 315 engineers, Liu cited the 80 million RMB (approximately USD 10 million) in aid that already left from Tianjin harbor for Darfur. He also said that Chinese companies are working in both northern and southern Darfur to provide drinkable water both for the people of Darfur and for the peacekeepers. He also said that China is ready to send medical teams to the region and the Chinese people have donated over USD 2 million to the region for development and reconstruction. Current Goals in Darfur -------------- ¶10. (U) As for current goals, Liu stated that peacekeeping requires a "good environment" and as such, all parties are making efforts to improve the security situation in Darfur. He further stated that the Chinese government is "urging restraint" in the region. When asked for clarification, he said that China is asking for restraint "from all stakeholders" in the region, including the Sudanese government, refugees and in particular anyone "doing anything wrong." Asked if China has plans to directly contact Khartoum, Liu responded that China does not have any such plans, as "neither the African Union nor the UN" has made such a request. Funding is the Biggest Hurdle -------------- ¶11. (U) Liu said the largest challenge the hybrid forces are facing is financial, as the peacekeeping operation, the single most expensive in the history of peacekeeping, will cost USD 2.5 billion per year. He said China is in consultation with other nations at UN on the matter. He also said that there is a need to accelerate the process of selecting the peacekeepers, so as not to dampen the current enthusiasm the African nations are displaying for peace keeping. ¶12. (U) When asked if China would support other means to resolve the issues in Darfur should a peaceful negotiated solution ultimately fail, Liu said that the current path of peaceful negotiation is clearly the right one, as evidenced by the progress already made. This progress includes the selection of a time and place for peace negotiations and the participation of eight rebel factions. The use of force, he said, would not solve any of the myriad problems facing the region. ¶13. (U) Asked about China's relationship with the Sudanese government, Liu responded that there are "no special elements" to the relationship, except that the two nations have strong economic ties. The media has attempted to politicize the relationship, he said, but his recent trip to America allowed him to make inroads in making others understand that Darfur "is not China's domestic issue" and that the world is "over-rating China's ability to help." Zimbabwe and Ethiopia -------------- ¶14. (U) Asked to comment on the situation in Zimbabwe and the sort of outcome the Chinese government would prefer, Liu said that China prefers to defer to regional organizations, such as the African Union. But while China sees the possibility of building not just a harmonious society but also a harmonious world, it, like many African nations including South Africa, does not want to "internationalize" the Zimbabwe issue. Asked if Chinese policy toward Zimbabwe BEIJING 00006158 003 OF 003 changed recently and whether it is true that China would only be giving humanitarian aid, Liu responded that he had not been following the situation. However, he said, no major Chinese development projects are underway in Zimbabwe because of the poor economic situation and massive devaluation of the currency, but humanitarian aid continues.(Note: Press reports after the conference suggested China had halted development aid to Zimbabwe. MFA contacts denied to PolOff September 19 any shift in Chinese aid policy toward Zimbabwe. See septel.) ¶15. (U) Asked about the potential for Ethiopia to become a second Darfur and whether Ethiopian troops are defending Sinopec holdings in the region, Liu responded that he had not seen the reports and was unable to comment. Randt