DARFUR: "OPERATIONAL ISSUES SHOULD BE WORKED OUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 001543 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2017 TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC KPKO EG SU SUBJECT: DARFUR: "OPERATIONAL ISSUES SHOULD BE WORKED OUT BETWEEN AFRICAN UNION, UNITED NATIONS, AND KHARTOUM" REF: A. SECSTATE 68240 ¶B. SECSTATE 68168 ¶C. CAIRO 1360 ¶D. CAIRO 1443 Classified by Minister Counselor for Economic and Political Affairs William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Poloff delivered ref A/B demarches to MFA Cabinet Advisor Ahmed Abu Zeid on May 24. Abu Zeid warned of potential fallout from pressing Khartoum too hard on "operational issues" related to the AU/UN Darfur peace keeping operation; issues he felt should be worked out by UN/AU/GOS experts. Egypt is focused on political reconciliation in Darfur, and is awaiting a reply from Washington on Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit's recent proposal of a Darfur "roadmap." The GOE is not seeking to bring Darfur rebels to Cairo for reconciliation talks. On Egypt's troop offer for the Heavy Support Package, the Ministry of Defense is refusing to send Egyptian engineering units without accompanying infantry for protection, and will only send requested APCs with Egyptian personnel. End summary. -------------- - GOE Cautious on Pushing UN Command and Control -------------- - ¶2. (C) Poloff raised refs A and B points on implementing the HSP for Darfur with MFA cabinet staffer responsible for African affairs Ahmed Abu Zeid on May 24. Abu Zeid acknowledged that all concerned parties, including the Sudanese government, had already agreed on the points in ref A paragraph 5 (left as a non-paper). However, Abu Zeid thought that the points on command and control and unity of command might provoke the GOS to be less cooperative on HSP implementation, and repeated Egypt's stance that the international community must "build confidence" with the GOS rather than threaten it. Abu Zeid stressed that the Abuja and Addis Ababa agreements left command and control intentionally ambiguous. Operational details, he argued, are best left for the tripartite UN/AU/GOS committee. -------------- GOE Focused on Political Reconciliation -------------- ¶3. (C) Egypt is focused on political reconciliation, said Abu Zeid, citing Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit's recent oral message to Washington and others proposing a "roadmap" for Darfur (ref C). Abu Zeid heard from Egypt's Washington embassy that a draft response from Secretary Rice was generally positive towards the Egyptian idea, but viewed as negative Egypt's idea for an international meeting in Addis to discuss the plan. Abu Zeid disputed the notion that such a meeting would allow the GOS to back-track on its commitments. To the contrary, the meeting would demonstrate support by the international community for the roadmap and progress on resolving the conflict in Darfur. Abu Zeid stressed that the international community must agree to hold both the GOS and rebel groups accountable for any obstruction on political reconciliation. -------------- Rebel Groups to Cairo? -------------- ¶4. (C) Discussing Cairo-based Sudanese opposition leader Mohamed Osman Mirghani's initiative for political reconciliation in Darfur (ref D),Abu Zeid said that media reports were "misleading" and that the GOE was not working on any such initiative, nor inviting non-signatories to the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) to Cairo. However, the GOE does keep its doors open to Sudanese opposition and DPA non-signatories who transit Cairo. -------------- Update on Egyptian Troop Offer -------------- ¶5. (C) Ministry of Defense Assistant Minister for Armament Major General Fouad Abd Al Halim told polmiloff on May 21 that the UN asked Egypt to replace the mechanized infantry battalions that Egypt had offered for the HSP with engineering units. According to Fouad, Egypt will not consider sending such engineering units without an Egyptian infantry battalion accompanying them for protection. Fouad said that the UN also asked to "rent" 36 APCs, which Fouad found unacceptable; Egypt would not send APCs without Egyptian personnel to operate them. RICCIARDONE