Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USUNNEWYORK194
2007-03-12 17:20:00
SECRET
USUN New York
Cable title:
UN/SUDAN SANCTIONS: FRENCH REACTION TO US NAMES
how-toVZCZCXRO2856 OO RUEHROV DE RUCNDT #0194 0711720 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 121720Z MAR 07 FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1496 INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0797 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0607 RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA PRIORITY 0243 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUFGNOA/USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
S E C R E T USUN NEW YORK 000194
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2017
TAGS: PREL UNSC ETTC SU
SUBJECT: UN/SUDAN SANCTIONS: FRENCH REACTION TO US NAMES
FOR SANCTIONS
REF: STATE 24349
Classified By: MINISTER COUNSELOR WILLIAM BRENCICK, FOR REASONS: 1.4(B)
AND (D).
S E C R E T USUN NEW YORK 000194
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2017
TAGS: PREL UNSC ETTC SU
SUBJECT: UN/SUDAN SANCTIONS: FRENCH REACTION TO US NAMES
FOR SANCTIONS
REF: STATE 24349
Classified By: MINISTER COUNSELOR WILLIAM BRENCICK, FOR REASONS: 1.4(B)
AND (D).
1. (C) Summary: French support for targeted sanctions in
Sudan will be predicated on an expected positive effect on
the ground in Darfur. Paris feels that USG proposed
sanctions targets are of too senior a rank to have a
productive effect, and expressed concern that targeting
individuals under indictment by the International Criminal
Court (ICC) would invite accusations of the politicization of
the Court. The French would also prefer a list of targets
that includes all parties to the conflict. End summary.
US PROPOSED NAMES
2. (S) USUN met with the French at the working level on March
7 to discuss Paris's initial reactions to the three names the
USG will propose for targeted sanctions in the Sudan
Sanctions Committee (reftel). Paris shares London's
reticence to sanction individuals as senior in rank as Awad
Ibn Auf, and is skittish about targeting Khalil Ibrahim as
"the leader of a movement." "Intermediate-level" targeting,
in Paris's view, would be more productive. Paris was also
concerned that sanctioning Ahmad Haroun will make the ICC
vulnerable to charges of politicization.
PREFERRED FRENCH WAY FORWARD
3. (C) According to French PolOff Clement LeClerc, Paris's
support for sanctions will be predicated on a expected
positive effect on the ground in Darfur. Potential sanctions
should target a) those violating human rights, and b) members
of the different parties to the conflict (LeClerc mentioned
the G19, SLM non-signatories, and SLM Minnawi). UK PolOff
David Whineray, also present at the meeting, indicated that
London supported targeting a similarly broad list of actors.
Paris will consider the UK proposal to expand the arms
embargo to all of Sudan, but felt that a no-fly zone would be
expensive, difficult to enforce, and perhaps an inappropriate
use of resources given that most attacks on civilians are
ground-based.
4. (C) The French would like to secure Chinese and Russian
support for sanctions at an early stage, and felt that we
would not get broad Committee support if we proposed names
before receiving the Sudanese reply to the January 24 letter
from the Secretary General on the Heavy Support Package.
However, LeClerc did not know how long Paris was willing to
wait for this response.
5. (C) USUN reiterated the need identifying information and
evidence of violations of resolution 1591 (2005) in order to
support additional names for sanctions. The UK expressed a
willingness to propose names for designation (some
combination of ours and theirs) by March 23, in line with the
timeline proposed in reftel for domestic designations of the
three US proposed targets.
WOLFF
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2017
TAGS: PREL UNSC ETTC SU
SUBJECT: UN/SUDAN SANCTIONS: FRENCH REACTION TO US NAMES
FOR SANCTIONS
REF: STATE 24349
Classified By: MINISTER COUNSELOR WILLIAM BRENCICK, FOR REASONS: 1.4(B)
AND (D).
1. (C) Summary: French support for targeted sanctions in
Sudan will be predicated on an expected positive effect on
the ground in Darfur. Paris feels that USG proposed
sanctions targets are of too senior a rank to have a
productive effect, and expressed concern that targeting
individuals under indictment by the International Criminal
Court (ICC) would invite accusations of the politicization of
the Court. The French would also prefer a list of targets
that includes all parties to the conflict. End summary.
US PROPOSED NAMES
2. (S) USUN met with the French at the working level on March
7 to discuss Paris's initial reactions to the three names the
USG will propose for targeted sanctions in the Sudan
Sanctions Committee (reftel). Paris shares London's
reticence to sanction individuals as senior in rank as Awad
Ibn Auf, and is skittish about targeting Khalil Ibrahim as
"the leader of a movement." "Intermediate-level" targeting,
in Paris's view, would be more productive. Paris was also
concerned that sanctioning Ahmad Haroun will make the ICC
vulnerable to charges of politicization.
PREFERRED FRENCH WAY FORWARD
3. (C) According to French PolOff Clement LeClerc, Paris's
support for sanctions will be predicated on a expected
positive effect on the ground in Darfur. Potential sanctions
should target a) those violating human rights, and b) members
of the different parties to the conflict (LeClerc mentioned
the G19, SLM non-signatories, and SLM Minnawi). UK PolOff
David Whineray, also present at the meeting, indicated that
London supported targeting a similarly broad list of actors.
Paris will consider the UK proposal to expand the arms
embargo to all of Sudan, but felt that a no-fly zone would be
expensive, difficult to enforce, and perhaps an inappropriate
use of resources given that most attacks on civilians are
ground-based.
4. (C) The French would like to secure Chinese and Russian
support for sanctions at an early stage, and felt that we
would not get broad Committee support if we proposed names
before receiving the Sudanese reply to the January 24 letter
from the Secretary General on the Heavy Support Package.
However, LeClerc did not know how long Paris was willing to
wait for this response.
5. (C) USUN reiterated the need identifying information and
evidence of violations of resolution 1591 (2005) in order to
support additional names for sanctions. The UK expressed a
willingness to propose names for designation (some
combination of ours and theirs) by March 23, in line with the
timeline proposed in reftel for domestic designations of the
three US proposed targets.
WOLFF