GUIDANCE FOR UN ENVOY BRIEFING ON DARFUR

UNCLAS STATE 079859 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: GUIDANCE FOR UN ENVOY BRIEFING ON DARFUR ¶1. (SBU) USUN is instructed to draw on the following talking points during the June 8 UN Security Council briefing with UN Special Envoy for Darfur Jan Eliasson on the political process in Darfur. ¶2. (SBU) Begin talking points. -- We welcome your efforts to widen support for the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA),and we remain committed to supporting the UN/AU-led mediation process. -- We encourage you to develop a more detailed road map that includes a timeline, specific initiatives, and roles for all parties, including regional actors. Initiatives that are not part of this road map should be discouraged. (Note: Indications are that the plan Eliasson will present to the UNSC will not have the required level of detail). -- On April 30 in Tripoli, the government of Sudan, the regional actors, and the international community as a whole agreed to support your leadership in the political process. That leadership is necessary to stop unhelpful or duplicative initiatives and give direction to all interested parties. -- We welcome your support for the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue conference in Nairobi to unite the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) ahead of the Sudan Peoples, Liberation Movement (SPLM) conference in Southern Sudan. We believe this effort has the best chance of preparing the SLM for the larger conference. Your leadership and active support will be necessary to make sure this conference succeeds, including reaching out to the government of Kenya, regional governments, and the rebel groups to ensure their support and wide SLM attendance. The government of Sudan, which agreed to your leadership of the political process in Tripoli, cannot be allowed to dictate how you work to unify the rebels. (Note: GOS officials have reportedly told Eliasson that they are opposed to rebel meetings outside Sudan). -- Your leadership is also required for the SPLM conference. The SPLM,s willingness to help in resolving the political process in Darfur is very helpful. However, they will need direction from the UN/AU mediation team to ensure the conference has a realistic scope, reasonable goals, and fits within the broader UN/AU-led political process. The UN/AU will also need to organize the resources for this conference. The United States is ready to assist with this process. -- We welcome the addition of former EU Special Rep Pekka Haavisto to your team. We understand, however, that Mr. Haavisto does not plan to be resident in Khartoum during this process. What is your plan for having full-time, high-level representation in Sudan? Because the situation is so complex and dynamic, sustained relationship-building and leadership are required for success. End talking points. RICE