SYG ASKS USG TO HOLD OFF ON SUDAN SANCTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000407

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL SU UNSC KPKO
SUBJECT: SYG ASKS USG TO HOLD OFF ON SUDAN SANCTIONS


Classified By: AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) This cable contains a recommendation; please see
paragraph 6.


2. (C) In a May 23 meeting, United Nations Secretary-General
(SYG) Ban Ki-moon gave Ambassador Khalilzad the "good news"
that he and African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Konare
had agreed earlier in the day on the draft UN-AU report for
the hybrid operation in Darfur. Konare agreed to UN language
on unity of command and control, as specified in paragraphs
63 and 127 of the report, previously the "core of the
controversy" between the UN and the AU. Ban presented a copy
of the report to Ambassador Khalilzad and asked if he, as UN
Security Council President, would circulate the report to
other Members of the Council. Ban hoped the Council would be
able to welcome the report through a Presidential Statement
as soon as possible.


3. (C) SYG Ban also presented to Ambassador Khalilzad a draft
letter he intended to send to Sudanese President Bashir on
May 24. The letter stressed that the Darfur peace process
would not progress without the full cooperation of the
Sudanese Government. The letter outlined four key areas for
action by Khartoum and by non-signatory movements. These
areas were: first, respect for the cease-fire; second,
disarmament of the janjaweed; third, support for strengthened
peacekeeping in Darfur, including implementation of the Light
Support Package, the Heavy Support Package and the hybrid
operation; and fourth, implementation of the March 28
communiqu on the facilitation of humanitarian activities in
Darfur.


4. (C) Ambassador Khalilzad thanked the SYG for his efforts
and informed him of the USG intention to announce on May 24
unilateral sanctions against three individuals and 30
entities in response to Sudanese lack of cooperation with
international demands and to heightened U.S. domestic
pressure. SYG Ban acknowledged that the threat of sanctions
was effective but warned that the imposition thereof might
complicate the ongoing peace process. He said that while he
did not want to be criticized as "siding with the Sudanese,"
(adding that not even former SYG Kofi Annan had been so
forthright with President Bashir),the Sudanese Government
had in fact "shown some flexibility" on the hybrid, as seen
in Bashir's promise to Ban during a "secret" meeting in Doha
last month that he would cooperate on this issue. Ban was
concerned that the credibility he had worked to achieve with
Bashir would be jeopardized if USG sanctions were imposed
before the hybrid report and his letter to Bashir were sent
to Khartoum on May 24.


5. (C) Ban further argued that Konare had spoken against
Sudan sanctions during his May 22 conversation with the SYG,
which had resulted in Konare's acceptance of the draft hybrid
report. Konare had warned that sanctions would have a
negative impact on the situation and would not enjoy the
endorsement of any African country. For these reasons, Ban
appealed to Ambassador Khalilzad for "some more time" before
moving forward on sanctions against Sudan.


6. (C) Ambassador Khalilzad assured Ban that he would
circulate the hybrid report to Council Members the evening of
May 23. He also promised the SYG that he would convey Ban's
concerns about sanctions to Washington. Recommendation: In
light of SYG Ban's appeal, USUN recommends that Washington
consider postponing the announcement of unilateral sanctions
against Sudan until the hybrid report and SYG letter to
Bashir are transmitted to Khartoum on May 24. To impose
unilateral sanctions at this point would not only be at odds
with the SYG's course of action, but would also jeopardize
any chance for adoption in the coming days of a draft
Security Council resolution imposing multilateral sanctions
against Sudan.
KHALILZAD