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