Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USUNNEWYORK385
2007-05-17 23:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USUN New York
Cable title:
UN/SUDAN SANCTIONS: COMMITTEE DISCUSSES
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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).
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
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