UN/AU: USG SHOULD ATTEND TRIPOLI FORUM

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000458 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF S/E NATSIOS AND AF/SPG NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2012 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO AU UN LY SU CD ER US SUBJECT: UN/AU: USG SHOULD ATTEND TRIPOLI FORUM REF: TRIPOLI 00293 Classified By: CDA Cameron Hume, Reason: Sections 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) UN and African Union officials in Khartoum expressed strong support for U.S. representation at the proposed multilateral coordination meeting in Tripoli (reftel) scheduled for April 16. UN Director of Political Affairs Abidoun Bashua and the deputy head of the AU's Darfur Peace Implementation team, Boubou Niang, told Poloff on March 22 that the proposed meeting is an ideal opportunity to harness international efforts under the UN/AU initiative led by Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed Salim. (Note: Bashua and Niang are both lead members of the Joint Mediation Support Team, Eliasson and Salim's Sudan-based taskforce. End note.) ¶2. (C) In the last two months, numerous Embassy contacts, including UN and AU representatives, third country diplomats, and Sudanese officials, have said that the U.S. is the only stakeholder that can influence Libya to play a constructive role in the Darfur peace process. Embassy contacts have also suggested that the USG could play a part in defusing Chad-Sudan bilateral tensions. The UN and AU have indicated that the Tripoli forum is an opportunity for us to do both. The meeting provides a mechanism to fold Libyan initiatives under the AU/UN umbrella while the choice of venue gives tacit acknowledgment of Tripoli's role. Niang also suggested that an Eritrean representative be included so Asmara does not attempt to spoil the process from the outside or instigate a competing event. ¶3. (C) A draft UN work plan presented to Poloff on March 20 indicated that Eliasson and Salim would focus on the regional aspects of the Darfur conflict in early to mid-April, after completing their consultations with interlocutors in Sudan. The proposed Libyan forum would coincide with this plan. ¶4. (C) Comment: Embassy Tripoli has indicated that the USG may lose leverage over Libya if we do not respond to this invitation. Such leverage is one way that the USG can play a critical support role to the UN/AU political process. In addition, the absence of a high-level USG official would signal that the USG does not recognize the importance of the regional aspects of the Darfur conflict and would undermine the UN/AU efforts to lead the peace process. End comment. ¶5. (U) Tripoli minimize considered. HUME