AEC COORDINATORS MEET TO PLAN WORK IN THE NEW YEAR

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000011 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KSCA OTRA EAID CDC SU SUBJECT: AEC COORDINATORS MEET TO PLAN WORK IN THE NEW YEAR ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: AEC working group coordinators met January 3 at the behest of the Acting AEC Chairman (the Norwegian Ambassador) in advance of the first AEC plenary session for 2008. The Norwegian Ambassador said the NCP and the SPLM had agreed to brief the Commission on terms of the agreements they had concluded ending the SPLM walkout from participation in the Government of National Unity (GoNU) in mid-October. The agenda will also include a discussion of plans for producing the mid-term report on CPA implementation. END SUMMARY. Waiting for Presidential Decree -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Norwegian Ambassador, Fridtjov Thorkildsen, told representatives of the U.S., UK and Netherlands embassies, along with the new Italian and Kenyan ambassadors, that the two parties (SPLM and NCP) had agreed that the Norwegian Embassy should chair the AEC until a new chairman is named in a Sudanese Presidential Decree. He said that his discussions with Presidential Advisor (NCP) Sayed al Khatib indicated that the decree would probably be limited to naming a new chairman, and would refrain from making changes in the international membership of the AEC. The Kenyan Ambassador said the NCP had expressed to him its preference that Kenya chair the AEC. However, he stated that he informed the NCP that Kenya is not prepared to perform this function. Next Plenary on January 8 -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The newly arrived Italian Ambassador urged maintaining the January 8 date for the first AEC Plenary of the new year because of its symbolic importance, one day before the three-year anniversary of the CPA. With all AEC coordinators in agreement, the Norwegian Ambassador said he would seek concurrence from the SPLM and NCP. The main items on the agenda will be (1) a briefing by the parties on their agreement for resuming their partnership in the GNU; (2) discussion on forthcoming working group meetings; and (3) discussion on drafting the required mid-term CPA report. On the last issue, it was agreed that an ad hoc committee would be formed to establish the terms of reference for the three-year review. Working group coordinators agreed not to raise the issue of a high-level international conference to review CPA implementation at the first plenary. Status of UK candidate for AEC Chairman -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The UK rep said there was still some way to go before obtaining approval of the two parties to the candidacy of Sir Derek Plumley for the post of AEC chair. He thanked the other parties, particularly the Norwegian Ambassador, for weighing in with the two parties on behalf of the candidate, and asked the others for suggestions as to when might be a good time for Plumley to visit Khartoum to present himself personally to the parties. Participants agreed with the CDA Powers that the UK Embassy should get the parties to agree on this point, and that Plumley's attendance at the January 8 AEC plenary would not be a good idea. Comments on SPLM team, Abyei proposal -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Commenting on the SPLM's new team of ministers in the GNU, the Norwegian Ambassador opined that while the NCP considers Pagan Amum a hardliner, it also seemed to believe that Amum's presence would strengthen the SPLM's presence in the AEC. He added that the SPLM had still not identified its primary AEC representative, but that Minister Kosti Manibe would be present at the first plenary. Presidential Advisor Sayed Al Khatib would probably remain a strong AEC focal point representing the NCP. Thorkildsen also said the SPLM had made it known that it had offered to the NCP two options for resolving the Abyei issue: Either the NCP accept the ABC report, in which case the SPLM would support the NCP for the presidency in the 2008 elections; or the SPLM would begin looking for other electoral partners in the election. Recruiting new staff for AEC secretariat -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Amb. Thorkildsen said the issue of recruiting new staff members for the AEC secretariat would be delayed pending selection of the next Chairman. ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: We expect Amb. Thorkildsen to proceed with his interim AEC leadership by pushing for progress in a cautious and measured fashion, which is what is called for at this time when the two parties begin their renewed partnership in the GNU. We will continue to weigh in with the parties on behalf of the UK candidacy for the chairmanship. POWERS