SYG BAN BRIEFS THE COUNCIL ON UN/AU POL PROCESS,

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000747 SIPDIS SIPDIS AF, IO AND NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC SU SUBJECT: SYG BAN BRIEFS THE COUNCIL ON UN/AU POL PROCESS, UNAMID REF: A. KANG-LEVINSON EMAILS 10/12/07 ¶B. KANG-LEVINSON EMAILS 10/11/07 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: SYG Ban Ki-Moon briefed the UNSC September 12 on his recent travels to Sudan, Chad and Libya and provided an update on UNAMID deployment. SYG Ban asked for UNSC members to support the planned meeting between the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the Darfur rebel groups to be convened in Tripoli on October 27. In regard to UNAMID implementation, SYG Ban asked the UNSC to assist DPKO with attaining pledges of specialized military units, specifically transport and aviation assets. Delegations praised SYG Ban's efforts to find a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, voiced frustration with the escalating violence in Darfur and asked the UN to move forward quickly with full implementation of UNAMID. END SUMMARY. -------------- SYG Ban Calls on UNSC to Support POL Process, UNAMID Deployment -------------- ¶2. (U) In closed UNSC consultations on September 12, SYG Ban reported that he held a series of productive meetings with Sudanese President Bashir, Chadian President Idriss Deby and Libyan President Qaddafi during his September visit to the region. SYG Ban called on the international community to support the UN/AU political process and asked UNSC members to encourage rebel leaders to attend the October 27 UN/AU brokered Darfur peace talks in Tripoli (ref A). SYG Ban reported that he had been warmly received throughout the region and said that political momentum is building for the October 27 meeting in Tripoli between the GNU and Darfur rebel groups, but acknowledged that ongoing rebel attacks and SAF aerial bombings threatened to derail it. SYG Ban asked UNSC members to use their influence with rebel groups and the GNU to attain a cessation of hostilities. SYG Ban said he had asked President Bashir to "exercise maximum restraint" and reported that Bashir had responded positively. ¶3. (U) In regard to UNAMID implementation, SYG Ban said DPKO has made substantial progress on addressing troop contributions of light infantry, but lacked substantial support from TCCs to meet UNAMID requirements for specialized and mechanized units. (NOTE: DPKO provided a September 10 briefing on UNAMID shortfalls to be reported septel. END NOTE.) SYG Ban said that many of these specialized assets would have to come from "non-African countries" and asked UNSC members to assist DPKO with attaining the required contributions. -------------- UNSC Members focused on POL Process, Darfur Violence -------------- ¶4. (U) AMB Khalilzad delivered reftel talking points, highlighting USG support for the UN/AU political process (ref B). He added that all players in the Darfur conflict must be appropriately represented and that Sudan Liberation Movement faction leader Abdelwahid al-Nur must be pressed to attend. In regard to the venue, AMB Khalilzad welcomed Libya's willingness to host the October 27 meeting and stressed that the UN must maintain control over the arrangements so that discussions can unfold in a neutral, positive atmosphere. AMB Khalilzad added that a cessation of hostilities by all parties in Darfur would contribute to the success of the October 27 discussions. ¶5. (U) Delegations broadly echoed calls for a cessation of hostilities in the lead up to the Tripoli meetings and called for rapid UNAMID implementation. UNSC members agreed that all rebel factions must be appropriately represented. PRC PR Wang said that the UNSC must send a "unified message" on Darfur in the lead up to the Tripoli discussions and asked that "those with particular influence over the Darfur rebel groups" encourage full participation in the meeting. French PR Ripert said the pending Chad/CAR draft resolution would complement UNAMID implementation and asked the UNSC to move forward quickly with the negotiating process. Italian PR Spatafora said that Sudanese President Bashir is slated to visit Rome next week and promised that the Government of Italy would ensure that its message tracked with the SYG's efforts. KHALILZAD