Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07OSLO000160ZDK164
2007-02-16 16:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:
SPECIAL ENVOY NATSIOS' SUDAN CONTACT GROUP MEETING
how-toVZCZCXRO1626 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHNY #0160/01 0471613 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 161613Z FEB 07 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY OSLO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5216 INFO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 0064 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0290 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0027 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1415 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0224 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0228
C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000160 ZDK 000164
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2017
TAGS: PREL EAID KPKO NO
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY NATSIOS' SUDAN CONTACT GROUP MEETING
Classified By: DCM Kevin M. Johnson for reasons 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000160 ZDK 000164
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2017
TAGS: PREL EAID KPKO NO
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY NATSIOS' SUDAN CONTACT GROUP MEETING
Classified By: DCM Kevin M. Johnson for reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: On February 9, Special Envoy Andrew
Natsios joined the Sudan Contact Group meeting in Oslo to
assess the state of play in Sudan. Although implementation
of the CPA has been stalled, all parties stressed the need
to maintain a unified Sudan and to encourage an IGAD summit
to set benchmarks to measure implementation progress. On
Darfur, parties agreed that patience was exhausted and that
the time had come for stronger measures. The parties
(including the EU) expressed the view that it would be useful
to meet soon to discuss stronger unified measures. In a
follow-on meeting with Norwegians, both sides agreed that the
Contact Group needs to find a way to target Bashir and his
close circle without causing a reaction that would further
exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.
Norwegians favor working with Eritrea on a planned
all-Darfur-parties meeting in Libya. END SUMMARY
Vraalsen on the CPA and Abyei
--------------
2. (SBU) Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC) Chair
Tom Vraalsen noted some progress in establishing CPA
structures such as the Government of National Unity.
However, substantive political problems persist, all
essentially involving either oil or the militias. Although
the AEC has repeatedly debated these issues, there has been
no progress. Vraalsen pleaded for the highest levels in
capitals to reengage on the CPA. He explained a Kenyan
suggestion to convene an IGAD Summit on the CPA and urged the
group to support this plan. He thought the Summit should
set benchmarks and ask the AEC to report to IGAD on those
areas.
3. (SBU) Growing concern with attacks on the AEC was raised,
particularly the statements that the AEC is overstepping its
mandate on Abyei. Vraalsen pointed out that Abyei is clearly
a flashpoint that needs an urgent resolution. The EU
representative Jean-Christophe Belliard suggested that
perhaps a Security Council statement on Abyei would help.
4. (SBU) Belliard then urged the group to be unambiguous in
supporting the unity of Sudan. The UK representative Jessica
Irvine agreed that stronger messages on the unity of Sudan by
the international community were important. She suggested
taking a longer-term perspective on a deal that would cover
oil revenue sharing so as to promote the concept of unity.
The group noted the conflicting interests of the parties with
regard to unity. Belliard also noted that the business
community is working towards deals that reflect two Sudans.
He urged the group to press countries with large business
interests to support unity. Some NGOs operating in the
south have been promoting separatism and members were urged
to discourage their NGOs from taking this approach.
5. (SBU) The group concluded that the international
community should frame the issue so the parties see it in
their own best interest to have a unified Sudan. This could
be done if development aid were seen to flow to the south.
It also might be done by franker discussions with the SPLM to
outline the likely bloody consequences of an attempt to
separate.
In conclusion, the group agreed to:
--stress the unity of Sudan;
--support the IGAD Summit proposal; and
--support the AEC through more pressure from capitals.
In addition, three Contact Group members agreed to provide
weekly updates on three key areas: UK (security),the
Netherlands (Abyei),and Canada (elections).
Sudan Consortium and Debt Relief
--------------
6. (SBU) Netherlands representative Huub Buise reported that
reconstruction is slow but there is some movement. He urged
monitoring of the UN-WB agreement in the Sudan Consortium.
Because of the likely mid-term implementation of the UN-WB
programs (due to limited government capacity in the south)
quick-impact directly funded programs would be useful. UK
representative Jessica Irvine raised the question of debt
relief for Khartoum. All parties agreed this would be
premature.
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2017
TAGS: PREL EAID KPKO NO
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY NATSIOS' SUDAN CONTACT GROUP MEETING
Classified By: DCM Kevin M. Johnson for reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: On February 9, Special Envoy Andrew
Natsios joined the Sudan Contact Group meeting in Oslo to
assess the state of play in Sudan. Although implementation
of the CPA has been stalled, all parties stressed the need
to maintain a unified Sudan and to encourage an IGAD summit
to set benchmarks to measure implementation progress. On
Darfur, parties agreed that patience was exhausted and that
the time had come for stronger measures. The parties
(including the EU) expressed the view that it would be useful
to meet soon to discuss stronger unified measures. In a
follow-on meeting with Norwegians, both sides agreed that the
Contact Group needs to find a way to target Bashir and his
close circle without causing a reaction that would further
exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.
Norwegians favor working with Eritrea on a planned
all-Darfur-parties meeting in Libya. END SUMMARY
Vraalsen on the CPA and Abyei
--------------
2. (SBU) Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC) Chair
Tom Vraalsen noted some progress in establishing CPA
structures such as the Government of National Unity.
However, substantive political problems persist, all
essentially involving either oil or the militias. Although
the AEC has repeatedly debated these issues, there has been
no progress. Vraalsen pleaded for the highest levels in
capitals to reengage on the CPA. He explained a Kenyan
suggestion to convene an IGAD Summit on the CPA and urged the
group to support this plan. He thought the Summit should
set benchmarks and ask the AEC to report to IGAD on those
areas.
3. (SBU) Growing concern with attacks on the AEC was raised,
particularly the statements that the AEC is overstepping its
mandate on Abyei. Vraalsen pointed out that Abyei is clearly
a flashpoint that needs an urgent resolution. The EU
representative Jean-Christophe Belliard suggested that
perhaps a Security Council statement on Abyei would help.
4. (SBU) Belliard then urged the group to be unambiguous in
supporting the unity of Sudan. The UK representative Jessica
Irvine agreed that stronger messages on the unity of Sudan by
the international community were important. She suggested
taking a longer-term perspective on a deal that would cover
oil revenue sharing so as to promote the concept of unity.
The group noted the conflicting interests of the parties with
regard to unity. Belliard also noted that the business
community is working towards deals that reflect two Sudans.
He urged the group to press countries with large business
interests to support unity. Some NGOs operating in the
south have been promoting separatism and members were urged
to discourage their NGOs from taking this approach.
5. (SBU) The group concluded that the international
community should frame the issue so the parties see it in
their own best interest to have a unified Sudan. This could
be done if development aid were seen to flow to the south.
It also might be done by franker discussions with the SPLM to
outline the likely bloody consequences of an attempt to
separate.
In conclusion, the group agreed to:
--stress the unity of Sudan;
--support the IGAD Summit proposal; and
--support the AEC through more pressure from capitals.
In addition, three Contact Group members agreed to provide
weekly updates on three key areas: UK (security),the
Netherlands (Abyei),and Canada (elections).
Sudan Consortium and Debt Relief
--------------
6. (SBU) Netherlands representative Huub Buise reported that
reconstruction is slow but there is some movement. He urged
monitoring of the UN-WB agreement in the Sudan Consortium.
Because of the likely mid-term implementation of the UN-WB
programs (due to limited government capacity in the south)
quick-impact directly funded programs would be useful. UK
representative Jessica Irvine raised the question of debt
relief for Khartoum. All parties agreed this would be
premature.