AEC PLENARY MEETING- May 15, 2007 (Corrected Copy For

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000772 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR AF/SPG, AF/EPS, EB/IFD, AND EB/ESC STATE PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR, AND ALSO PASS USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EFIN ECON EAID SU SUBJECT: AEC PLENARY MEETING- May 15, 2007 (Corrected Copy For Khartoum MRN 0768) ¶1. SUMMARY: The Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC) held its 20th plenary session in Khartoum on May 15. AEC Chair Vraalsen delivered a summary of his May assessment trip to Kordofan, Blue Nile, Khartoum, and Bahr al Jabel states. Noting difficulties in scheduling, attendance, and overall coordination with the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM),Vraalsen questioned the commitment of these parties to the AEC. These comments elicited a quick response from the NCP and SPLM, as well as competing views on the Blue Nile province, the release of funding for the ongoing census, and security in Khartoum and the south. END SUMMARY. ¶2. The AEC meeting was attended by representatives from Italy, NCP, the Netherlands, Norway, SPLM, U.K., U.S., and observers from the EU and the U.N. Chairman Vraalsen delivered a detailed report of his May travel throughout Sudan. Focusing much attention on the Blue Nile, chairman Vraalsen stated that there is a "sharp delineation" between SPLM and GNU controlled areas. According to Blue Nile officials, the Government of National Unity (GNU) has not delivered funds to this state, leading to continued difficulties for the development of education sector, joint integrated units (JIU),and continued disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) efforts. On his visit to Juba (May 1-3),Vraalsen found the city "booming with construction and trade." According to his report, the WFP program, road construction, and the de-mining activities are all thriving. He also noted that AEC's new facility in Juba should be operational by August 2007. Vraalsen stated that he understands funds from the 2007 budget for the census have not been disbursed. Chairman Vraalsen ended his comments urging the NCP and SPLM to take their commitment to the AEC more seriously, saying, "I expect full cooperation [from the SPLM and NCP.] We cannot continue going down this road." ¶3. The NCP representatives, Idris Muhammad Abd Al-Qadar and Abdel Rahman Ibrahim El Khalifa, responded to Vraalsen's comments, stating that their commitment to the AEC should not be questioned, calling his remarks "unfortunate." Al-Qadar objected to Vraalsen's bleak picture of the Blue Nile state and added that the funds for the census from the 2006 budget have been paid in full and that the 2007 portion will be made through a quarterly allocation. ¶4. The SPLM representatives, Angelina Teny, Anne Itto, and Kosti Manibe, praised Chairman Vraalsen's report on his trip, urging similar AEC travel in the future. State Minister Itto, while enthusiastic about Juba's development, cautioned that Juba should not become the focus of all development in the south. Itto warned that the center-periphery relationship between Khartoum and the rest of Sudan should not be replicated between Juba and the rural south. With regards to the census, Itto stated that quarterly funds should have arrived by March, but in fact had not been received by May. SPLM representatives painted a more sober picture of the Blue Nile state, naming corruption, the failure to pay salaries, and the lack of civil service infrastructure as significant problems. Teny also added that more work by the AEC is needed on two topics: the oil sector and Abyei. She expressed concern about reports of attacks on southerners in Khartoum. ¶5. SPLM and NCP representatives assured Charge Powers that they would send a representative to the Wealth Sharing Working Group's visit to the Heglig Oil field on May 21, 2007. The next AEC Plenary will be held June 7th, 2007. ¶6. The draft minutes from the May 15 AEC plenary meeting will be emailed to SPG. POWERS