CHINA: LITTLE REVEALED ON DARFUR DISCUSSIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000171 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2017 TAGS: PREL KPKO PGOV UN CH SU SUBJECT: CHINA: LITTLE REVEALED ON DARFUR DISCUSSIONS DURING PRES. HU VISIT Classified By: Classified by: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) The February 2-3 visit to Khartoum of Chinese president Hu Jintao involved substantial pageantry, a variety of aid and trade agreements (septel),and a series of high-level meetings, but little new information on efforts to address a transition to UN peacekeeping in Darfur. The visit, the first of a Chinese president to Sudan, which recognized China 48 years ago, also included a visit to an oil refinery. -------------- --- Pro-Gov't Daily Claims Pres. Hu Addressed Darfur -------------- --- ¶2. (U) The Sudan Vision, a government-affiliated daily newspaper, stated that President Hu underlined four principles for resolving the Darfur conflict: respect for Sudanese sovereignty and territorial integrity, seeking diplomatic venues for resolving the issue, constructive roles for the African Union and the UN in peacekeeping, and the necessity of improving the humanitarian situation. The February 4 account also stated that the Chinese president urged reaching a ceasefire in Darfur and bringing on board those who did not sign the Darfur Peace Agreement, as well as guaranteeing the delivery of humanitarian relief. (Note: no other news accounts revealed details on discussions between Presidents Hu and Bashir on the Darfur conflict. End note.) -------------- NRF Criticizes Chinese Stance on Darfur -------------- ¶3. (U) Little news appeared regarding China and support for a transition to a UN peacekeeping operation in Darfur. The National Redemption Front (NRF) described China's position on Darfur as "disgraceful or at best disappointing" in an account carried by Al-Khalij of Sharjah, reflecting an NRF statement issued from its Asmara headquarters. The account, which reflects a statement by the NRF from its headquarters in Asmara, accused the Chinese of "total bias on Khartoum's side, without paying attention to the massacres, war crimes, and blatant violations of human rights committed in Darfur by the regime." It added that China supported the president of Sudan without any qualms, and viciously defended the regime at the UN Security Council. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) In a February 4 meeting with Sr. Assistant to the President and Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM) leader Minni Minawi, PolOff learned that the Chinese delegation had not known that the Government of National Unity included a Darfurian member. Minni said that a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs official had apologized to him for not arranging a meeting with President Hu during his visit to discuss Darfur. The official also advised Minni that the Chinese government would provide USD 5 million for Darfur, with no details offered. POWERS