UN/SUDAN SANCTIONS: COMMITTEE DISCUSSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000385 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2017 TAGS: PREL UNSC ETTC SU PGOV SUBJECT: UN/SUDAN SANCTIONS: COMMITTEE DISCUSSES STRENGTHENING THE EMBARGO Classified By: MINISTER COUNSELOR WILLIAM BRENCICK, FOR REASONS: 1.4(B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During the May 9 and 15 meetings of the Sudan Sanctions Committee China, Russia, Indonesia, Qatar, and Congo insisted that progress in the peace process made further sanctions inappropriate, while USUN, the UK, France, Belgium, and Slovakia expressed support for broader sanctions. The UK also raised the recent Amnesty International report naming Russia and China as the major suppliers of weapons transferred to Darfur in violation of the arms embargo. Russia asserted its compliance with all UN obligations, however the Chinese delegate was absent during this portion of the meeting. China, Qatar, and Congo actively attempted to obstruct Committee work during the May 9 session, and encountered no resistance to their efforts from the Italian Chairman. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) The Sudan Sanctions Committee met informally on May 9 to consider the Panel of Experts, recommendations on strengthening the arms embargo, including: expanding the embargo to all of Sudan; creating an arms inventory to track new arms in Darfur; requiring end-use certification for all trade in military goods with the Government of Sudan (GOS); restricting Sudan's import of dual-use items; and imposing a new round of targeted sanctions on spoilers. There was no Committee consensus on pursuing any of the Panel's recommendations. NO COMMITTEE CONSENSUS ON NEW SANCTIONS MEASURES ¶3. (C) Conforming to predictable positions, China, Russia, Qatar, and Indonesia opposed all of the Panel's recommendations for new measures. Congo, which had until now been equivocal on further sanctions, indicated repeatedly during the May 9 meeting that it would not support negative sanctions against Khartoum. Congo cited progress in obtaining the Heavy Support Package of assistance to the African Union Mission in the Sudan (AMIS) and improvements on the ground in Darfur, and argued that the Committee must create a climate of confidence with the GOS rather than "swimming against the current." South Africa asked how imposing any of these measures would result in greater GOS cooperation, which was "key" to further progress. ¶4. (C) USUN, UK, and Slovakia stated strong support for the Panel's recommendations, and France and Belgium argued for an expansion of the arms embargo if the situation in Darfur persisted. Peru acknowledged the need to strengthen the embargo, but questioned whether expanding it was the solution. UK CALLS ON RUSSIA AND CHINA TO ACCOUNT FOR ARMS IN DARFUR ¶5. (C) During the Committee's May 15 meeting, the UK raised Amnesty International's May 8 report that found the majority of arms violating the embargo in Darfur to be of Chinese and Russian origin. The UK noted that the report highlighted the limitations of the current embargo and bolstered the case for improving it. The UK asked if the Committee members mentioned in the report had any comments on the report or had any contact with the GOS since its publication. USUN expressed concern about continued reports of embargo violations. Russia responded that it would not comment on the report, but did give the official Russian position that its cooperation with Sudan takes place strictly within international norms and in conformity with UN obligations. The Chinese delegate was not present during this portion of the meeting. ITALIAN PREOCCUPATION WITH CONSENSUS FACILITATING OBSTRUCTION ¶6. (C) During the May 9 meeting, the UK proposed that the Chair alert the Panel of Secretary-General Ban's statement condemning recent aerial attacks in Darfur. The Chinese, Qataris, and Congolese argued at length against such action, stating that the Panel could act without Committee direction. The British proposal, however, unexpectedly gained Russian support, and this shift was enough to convince the Chair to accept the British suggestion. USUN NEW Y 00000385 002 OF 002 ¶7. (C) Comment: The Italian commitment to gain consensus on every issue, no matter how anodyne, has the effect of facilitating the obstructionism of Committee members sympathetic to Khartoum. Italy is typically represented by Counselor Antonio Alessandro in PermRep Spatafora's stead. End Comment. KHALILZAD