EGYPT, ARAB LEAGUE PUBLICLY OPPOSE SUDAN

UNCLAS CAIRO 001627 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM UNSC KPKO EG SU SUBJECT: EGYPT, ARAB LEAGUE PUBLICLY OPPOSE SUDAN SANCTIONS; MORE EGYPTIAN OBSERVERS TO DARFUR REF: A. STATE 73693 ¶B. CAIRO 1543 ¶C. KHARTOUM 837 Sensitive but unclassified, please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Responding to ref A demarche, MFA Cabinet Advisor Ahmed Abu Zeid referenced Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit's May 30 statement criticizing increased U.S. bilateral economic sanctions on Sudan. Aboul Gheit criticized escalating sanctions on Sudan "at a time when the political process in Darfur is witnessing a positive momentum," and said that such sanctions have historically proven "their ineffectiveness in realizing their objective." Aboul Gheit repeated the GOE stance that we must "build confidence" between the international community and the GOS, and between the GOS and the non-signatories to the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). Aboul Gheit also highlighted Egypt's focus on political reconciliation in Darfur, and said that the GOS, UN and AU should work out the "technical" details of implementing the peacekeeping mission without "politicization." (Ref B contains similar points that Abu Zeid told poloff May 24.) ¶2. (U) Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa also released a May 30 statement criticizing the sanctions, saying that "it is not the time for sanctions, but for intensifying efforts to reach understandings." Moussa said that "sanctions will lead to more tension," and that historically sanctions have "led to the worst harms and escalated problems." ¶2. (SBU) On May 27, Egypt sent 78 more military observers to Darfur to join the African Union peacekeepers currently there. Abu Zeid told poloff that these observers were an already agreed upon component of the light support package, and their deployment was not affected by the May 25 killing of an Egyptian UN military observer in Darfur (ref C). RICCIARDONE