OIL AND ABYEI - AEC PLENARY RAISES CONTENTIOUS ISSUES

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001138 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/SPG, AF/EPS, EB/IFD, AND EB/ESC DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR, AND ALSO PASS USAID SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EFIN ECON SOCI AID SU SUBJECT: OIL AND ABYEI - AEC PLENARY RAISES CONTENTIOUS ISSUES REF: ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a July 17 Assessment and Evaluation Committee (AEC) plenary session, representatives from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the National Congress Party (NCP) addressed several unresolved and contentious issues including: the relationship between the National Petroleum Commission and the Executive Committee; the failure of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) troops to redeploy from oil production areas; and the most recent developments on Abyei. Through trading critical remarks and questioning the AEC's mandate, the SPLM and NCP representatives provided two different accounts of the status of implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and signaled that the institution of the AEC may need further support. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) AEC Chairman Vraalsen began the plenary session with a pointed opening statement. He stated that there have been high level consultations outside the framework of the AEC which have "not reported any visible results." He criticized the media and both the SPLM and NCP for not celebrating the second anniversary of the Government of National Unity (GNU). He then directly asked, "My question to the parties is where are you taking the country?" He closed his remarks asking for the parties' reports on Abyei, the Sudan Armed Forces deployment in the oil areas in Unity State and Upper Nile, and the status of preparatory work for the census. -------------- --- WHO MAKES THE CALL? NPC OR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE? -------------- --- ¶3. (U) SPLM representatives reported that the National Petroleum Commission (NPC) has been established with full registration and approval of its internal regulations, though the secretariat still needs to be formed. They added that an NPC office will be constructed in Juba. Although representatives provided a positive reading of the recent decisions regarding oil blocks 5a and 5b, they acknowledged that the "relationship between the Executive Committee and NPC still needs to be refined." When pressed by Chairman Vraalsen as to whether it was the NPC or the Executive Committee who made the final decision, SPLM and NPC representatives gave vague and elusive answers. -------------- SAF TROOPS REMAIN IN SOUTHERN OIL FIELDS -------------- ¶4. (U) SPLM representatives expressed concern about the remaining presence of SAF troops in southern oil producing areas. Although SAF redeployment was on schedule in Equatoria and Bahr el Ghazal, large numbers of troops remained in oil production areas. SPLM representatives stated that the presence of some 4,400 troops in Unity State near oil fields has created tension with the local population who see this as a clear violation of the CPA. ¶5. (U) SPLM representatives stated that they judge the commitment of their partner by the steps they take toward redeployment. SPLM representative Angelina Teny stated that she asked one SAF commander protecting an oil area in Unity State about their presence, and he responded "We cannot leave the oil areas until they are secure." In retelling this story, she asked those present at the AEC plenary, "These forces need to make sure this area is secure from whom?" She stated the Government of South Sudan and its forces would do everything in its power to insure the security of its only source of revenue - the oil fields. NCP representatives stated that the oil areas are a national asset that needs to protection, and made no indication that SAF troops would redeploy any time soon. -------------- ABYEI -------------- ¶6. (U) SPLM representatives gave a cautiously optimistic report on Abyei, stating that after lengthy discussion, the parties have agreed to separate Abyei's oil issue from that of the border. They added that deliberations went much further than what is stipulated in the CPA, and also said that the SPLM has presented a "position to the NCP" that is awaiting a response. The NCP representative said that the issue of boundaries represents the biggest stumbling block, but that both parties have a desire to solve the Abyei issue. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: This AEC plenary provided some stirring moments. Vraalsen's pointed opening statement directly probed the commitment of the SPLM and the NCP to the CPA. Meanwhile, the SPLM shared stern words on SAF redeployment from oil fields, and the NCP charged that they would like to hear more positive news from the SPLM, rather than just complaints. ¶8. (SBU) COMMENT CONTINUED. This frankness also included a debate about the mandate of the AEC. NCP representatives responded to concerns about their commitment by questioning the overall authority of the AEC, stating that it is not a court or tribunal. Alluding that the AEC does not have the ability to enforce the CPA or reprimand the parties involved, this representative essentially questioned the overall mission of the AEC. Although the open and direct discussion in the session should be applauded, this exchange may signal that the institution of the AEC may need to be strengthened and that certain parties may need to be reminded of the AEC's important role in the future of the CPA and Sudan as a whole. END COMMENT. ¶9. (U) Draft Minutes from this 22nd AEC Plenary meeting have been e-mailed to the Sudan Programs Group along with the following documents: - Attendance list for the 22nd AEC Plenary meeting - Approved minutes from the 21st AEC Plenary meeting held on June 7th, 2007 (part 1) - Chairman's report for the period June 7 to July 7 (part 1) - Draft narrative report from the Security Working Group on '2 year of CPA implementation' (part 2) - Matrix for the above - Draft narrative report from the Power Sharing Working Group on '2 year of CPA implementation'(part 3) - Matrix for the above - Power point presentation by UNOPS on the "Effect of Logistics and Operations on Elections" (part 4) FERNANDEZ