UN/SUDAN SANCTIONS: P5 AMBASSADORS DISCUSS SUDAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000198 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2017 TAGS: PREL UNSC ETTC SU SUBJECT: UN/SUDAN SANCTIONS: P5 AMBASSADORS DISCUSS SUDAN SANCTIONS REF: MURRAY-WOLFF-SILVERBERG EMAIL 3/7/07 Classified By: MINISTER COUNSELOR WILLIAM BRENCICK, FOR REASONS: 1.4(B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) UK PermRep Emyr Jones Parry convened a meeting of P5 Ambassadors on March 6 to discuss imposing new sanctions on Sudan. In attendance were Chinese PermRep Wang, Russian PermRep Churkin, French Political Counselor Nicolas de Riviere, and USUN Ambassador Sanders. Jones Parry argued that if and when the Sudanese respond to the Secretary General's January 24 letter on the Heavy Support Package (HSP),the response is unlikely to pledge unqualified GOS cooperation. However, he continued, the situation in Darfur continues to deteriorate while the Council waits for this response. London was ready to consider further sanctions in Sudan, but intended to first turn up the heat on the GOS through concerted P5 pressure, perhaps through a joint "positive" demarche in Khartoum. ¶2. (C) De Riviere indicated that Paris preferred to continue on the diplomatic track before resorting to sanctions, but that the P5 should begin to discuss next steps if Bashir continues to stall. De Riviere advocated waiting to at least consider the contents of the HSP letter. ¶3. (C) Churkin argued that sanctions would be a mistake. The GOS was contending with a rebel operation inside its own country, and sanctions on the GOS would be counterproductive. Wang urged that the P5 must be very careful about public statements and actions at this sensitive time. Its goal should be to "do no harm," and even talking about sanctions could be harmful. China was expecting a positive response on the HSP from Bashir. ¶4. (C) Ambassador Sanders indicated that Washington is considering the situation very carefully and noted that S/E Natsios was presently in Khartoum trying to persuade GOS to accept the peacekeeping proposal. However, the P5 could not continue to wait indefinitely, particularly given that AMIS's mandate is due to run out and serious progress on the HSP, not to mention the hybrid, has been elusive. Sanders stated that USG is considering how to proceed with sanctions or the threat of sanctions. Bashir has so far shown himself to be unresponsive to every attempt to work in a cooperative manner, but perhaps he will respond to other measures. ¶5. (C) As a next step, Jones Parry proposed to circulate some "positive" points to the P5 that might be the basis for a diplomatic initiative in Khartoum. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: At a minimum, the subject of sanctions has now been seriously broached with Russia and China and will be active, depending on the cooperation of the Sudanese to implement the three phase plan for Darfur. In the meantime USUN is working closely with British counterparts to develop a common approach and strategy on sanctions. END COMMENT. WOLFF