SENIOR UN OFFICIALS PROPOSE STRUCTURE FOR TRIPOLI

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000644 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/AS FRAZER, AF S/E NATIOS, AND AF/SPG NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV AU UN SU CD LY ER US SUBJECT: SENIOR UN OFFICIALS PROPOSE STRUCTURE FOR TRIPOLI TALKS KHARTOUM 00000644 001.4 OF 002 Classified By: CDA Cameron Hume, Reason: Sections 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) The April 28 summit in Tripoli on the Darfur political process presents an opportunity to harmonize international efforts to overcome the political stalemate and establish a common set of principles for re-invigorating peace negotiations, according to senior UN officials in Khartoum. Agreement among the special envoys of the UN, AU, U.S., and EU; the representatives of the Sudanese, Chadian, Libyan, and Eritrean governments; and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) on this set of principles would be an important first step to develop a concrete operational plan for the UN and African Union-led political process in Darfur. ¶2. (C) The officials explained that Libya had not provided an agenda for the conference, which left open the opportunity for the international community to shape its outcome. They emphasized that the USG was the only party that could channel the disparate international efforts into a constructive process so that a common understanding among regional governments and international envoys emerged from the discussions in Tripoli. On April 24, the senior UN officials provided Poloff with the language for a draft communique that they suggested could form a framework for the Tripoli talks and promote a productive outcome that would lead to a more coherent and structured international effort. (Note: The UN officials wrote the proposed language as a way to focus the dialogue in Tripoli and did not clear the language with New York. Please handle accordingly. End note.) ¶3. (SBU) The proposed language of the communique is as follows: (Begin Text) "Express gratitude to Libya for hosting the conference. As the one year anniversary of the Darfur Peace Agreement approaches, it has been a timely and important opportunity to re-examine the status of implementation of the DPA and the urgent need to address the continuing crisis in Darfur. These discussions have helped to chart the way forward. Coordination: One important outcome has been the coordination of various ideas and initiatives on the way forward for Darfur. All participants support the joint African Union-United Nations initiative as the lead on renewing the political process and have pledged their continued cooperation. The participants represent countries that have much to contribute to the process and will work in coordination to ensure that the people of Darfur benefit to the maximum extent possible. The participants called on all national and international stakeholders to contribute constructively to this renewed process and to also coordinate their efforts with the AU-UN initiative. Humanitarian: The participants strongly renew their call to all armed parties to urgently facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance to people in Darfur who are most desperately in need. It is inhumane to continue to block relief, either through administrative or military means, to the victims of the fighting on the ground. The participants welcomed the recent joint communique between the Government of Sudan and the UN of 28 March 2007 which called on all stakeholders 'to work in the spirit of transparency and accountability, to respect basic humanitarian principles of impartiality, humanity and independence of humanitarian actors, to respect freedom of access to all the population irrespective of their location and to provide assistance based on the assessed needs.' Ceasefire and security: Security for the citizens of Darfur is paramount. All parties must accept and act upon their agreed ceasefire obligations without delay. The participants called on all parties to immediately commit themselves to a ceasefire as a confidence-building measure to enhance the political process. They welcomed the stated commitment of all parties to a political solution to the Darfur crisis. Support to AMIS: KHARTOUM 00000644 002.4 OF 002 The participants condemned, in the strongest terms, the attacks on AMIS soldiers, which have risen sharply in recent weeks. AMIS has the support of the international community to provide security and stability on the ground in Darfur and continued attacks on their personnel undermine any attempt to find a solution to the crisis. All parties must support the work of AMIS and endeavor to enhance its capacity. The participants pledged that they will push for assured and secure funding of AMIS operations until the end of 2007, including the restructuring of the force into three sectors and the addition of two battalions. In parallel, the Heavy Support Package and eventual hybrid operation must be expedited as a matter of urgency to support AMIS efforts and to benefit the people of Darfur. In this connection, the participants called on the African Union and the international community to support the speedy implementation of the Heavy Support Package through timely deployment of personnel. They also expressed the hope that ongoing consultations will be concluded shortly on the final phase of support to AMIS regarding the hybrid operation under UN command and control structures and systems. The participants strongly noted that the peace-keeping and political efforts must be pursued simultaneously, in order to facilitate a speedy return of peace and security to Darfur in the shortest possible time. Futue of the Process: The participants affirmed unequivocally that the current humanitarian and security situation in Darfur cannot continue indefinitely and that the armed movements in Darfur must pursue negotiations on a political track in the near future. The conditions on the ground grow more appalling daily and makes immediate action imperative. Regional governments must cease support for armed movements in Darfur in order to encourage participation in the political process. The participants also noted the need for consultation with the broadest possible number of stakeholders in Darfur, including, inter alia, the Sudanese Government, the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Minni Minawi, DPA signatories, rebel movements, civil society, IDPs and tribal leaders. They appealed to all Darfurian stakeholders to contribute substantively to the process and contact the AU-UN team with their concerns. Reconstruction and Recovery: The participants discussed the urgent need to plan for the recovery and development of Darfur. They noted that while peace is being negotiated, there are projects that could be designed now to meet the long-term needs of a society that has seen its social fabric ripped apart and livelihoods destroyed. The participants pledged their countries' and institutions' support for the speedy implementation of efforts to bring the dividend of peace to the people of Darfur and facilitate the early return IDPs and refugees back to their homes." (End Text) ¶4. (C) Within the framework of the principles cited in the proposed language, the UN officials suggested that the participants in the Tripoli talks determine a "division of labor" for engaging with the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) non-signatories and regional governments. In addition, international representatives could discuss concrete methods of support for the UN/AU initiative. ¶5. (C) Tripoli minimize considered. HUME