SE WILLIAMSON TELLS KHARTOUM TO MAKE A RADICAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KHARTOUM 001510 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR A/S FRAZER, S/E WILLIAMSON, AND AF/SPG NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2018 TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO UN AU SU SUBJECT: SE WILLIAMSON TELLS KHARTOUM TO MAKE A RADICAL ADJUSTMENT IN ITS APPROACH TO PEACE IN DARFUR Classified By: CDA Mark Asquino, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The GOS must make a radical adjustment in its approach to Darfur, SE Williamson told regime officials in Khartoum. Peace conferences and theatrics are fine, but what is urgently required is a deal with keys rebels, and implementation of that deal. Williamson blasted the NCP for the massacre at Kalma camp, pointing out that the top priority of the US in Sudan is the relief of human suffering in Darfur. Williamson gave the Sudanese credit for recent cooperation with UNAMID on deployment. Presidential Assistant Nafie ali Nafie requested US assistance in getting rebels to the negotiating table in the upcoming talks in Qatar. Just one day after his failed meetings in Paris, Nafie did not raise the ICC issue. End summary. ¶2. (C) SE Williamson and staff, SPG Director Shortley, CDA Asquino, and polchief met with Presidential Assistant Nafie Ali Nafie October 8 at Nafie,s office at the Republican Palace in Khartoum. Nafie was flanked by a phalanx of senior advisors including NISS Chief Salah Ghosh, NCP strategist Sayed al Khateeb, NCP negotiator Yehia Bebiker Hussein, MFA U/S Mutriff Siddiq, and two Ambassadors from the MFA. Following the meeting, NISS Director Ghosh invited Williamson to a private meeting at NISS headquarters. ¶3. (C) SE Williamson told Nafie that US priorities in Sudan have not changed; the relief of human suffering and humanitarian assistance remain our top priorities. Williamson said his main concern is the violence against civilians in Darfur, as well as violence against humanitarian workers, and expressed outrage at what had happened at Kalma camp. Williamson stated that there is an urgent need for peace in Darfur as well as implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Williamson noted that he had just met with the Libyans to discuss Sudan-Chad border security, and that during his previous visit to Chad he had pressed the Chadians to cease support to the Darfur rebels, particularly the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). Williamson stated that in the view of the US, the respective support of each other,s rebels and the &bleed8 of fighters across the border between Sudan and Chad greatly contributes to instability in both countries. Williamson said he shared the disappointment of the Sudanese that the US-Sudan bilateral talks had stalled, but stated that the US has an interest in resuming these talks when the time is right. ¶4. (C) SE Williamson told Nafie that the US is trying to be supportive in working with the Sudanese toward the rapid deployment of UNAMID, and that the US is appreciative of the recent cooperation of the Sudanese in this regard. Williamson expressed appreciation for the "recalibration" that has occurred in Khartoum with respect to UNAMID deployment. However, Williamson urged a &radical adjustment8 toward Darfur peace negotiations. While recognizing that the GOS has &many difficult interlocutors8 to deal with in Darfur, Williamson urged that to get results the Sudanese are going to have to work together to get a sustainable deal. Williamson noted the many initiatives on Darfur - in Sudan, in Qatar ) and pointed out that the US is not interested in the process and the promises, nor the theatrics, but rather in the deal that is struck and the implementation of the deal. Williamson recalled the Congolese peace negotiations at Sun City and noted that the &bells and whistles and process and theater8 were all fine, but at the end of the day what mattered was the deal that was struck. &You must reach a deal that will bring security, alleviate suffering, and bring peace to Darfur,8 Williamson noted, and commented that the 27 points agreed to recently in El Fasher with SLM leader and DPA signatory Minni Minawi could have been implemented a year ago. Williamson stated that it is in all of our interests to have a better situation in Darfur, and that this would lead to better relations between the US and Sudan. If progress is made in the coming months in Darfur, SE Williamson said he would be in a position to make note of that progress in meetings not only with President Bush but also with the next administration. ¶5. (C) Presidential Assistant Nafie responded that Sudan wants to normalize relations with Chad and said he had asked the French to assist in this regard. Nafie said the GOS is committed to resolving the humanitarian situation in Darfur and thanked the US for its support to the deployment of UNAMID. &We want UNAMID on the ground, and we want very KHARTOUM 00001510 002 OF 003 close contact with UNAMID, to secure the routes for humanitarian aid that are targeted by bandits ) because they are by all means bandits,8 said Nafie. Nafie coldly acknowledged that some civilians had died at Kalma camp, but insisted that Kalma camp must be dealt with due to security issues. He claimed that the GOS had confirmed that people inside the camp had shot at the UNAMID helicopter. UNAMID police are trying to take care of the situation in Kalma, and we will support the effort for sure, said Nafie. Nafie questioned what &dramatic change8 in policy meant, since in his view the GOS is already promoting the delivery of humanitarian assistance, facilitating the deployment of UNAMID, cooperating with the tribal groups, expressing its interest in accepting rebel groups in the peace process, and implementing the DPA. Nafie requested that the US support the Qatari effort as well as the efforts of Chief Mediator Bassole, which he said should be integrated, and urged that the US &twist arms8 to persuade the rebels to participate. &Abdel Wahid wants to be appointed Vice President while he is in Paris,8 scoffed Nafie. NCP OFFICIALS RECOUNT PROGRESS -------------- ¶6. (C) Nafie asked others on his team if they had anything to add. Khateeb said that since Abuja the Government has been waiting for the other rebel groups to join the peace process. He said that on October 16 the President will address a large gathering of all who are involved in seeking peace in Darfur, and that all political parties except one will participate (he undoubtedly was referring to Turabi,s PCP). Khateeb said that the GOS will &go after8 those who had committed crimes in Darfur to ensure that there is justice. Khateeb said that pledges made toward development in Darfur at the talks in Abuja will be doubled. He asked that the international community attend the event and lend its support. ¶7. (C) Bebiker urged that the US and France put pressure on Chad to stop supporting JEM and to normalize relations with Sudan. With regard to Abyei, he noted that the Interim Administration is now in place and the roadmap is almost fully implemented. Bebiker said that he has been appointed to lead the &Abyei Unity Support Fund8 which will assist in allocating funds to the area. On CPA issue more generally, Bebiker noted that the electoral law had been passed and the electoral commission should soon begin its work, but that the commissioners have to be convinced to accept their posts. Bebiker asked if the US would be willing to intervene with the GOSS on the issue of the foreign exchange that, he said, should be returned to the central bank of Sudan.Q ¶8. (C) Siddiq obser~ed txat the GMQ has been cooheRayl'Q bulny(wyvh0TAYF df0lymenu i.| tpt xg EVW+EY`plhQ*lDr'|"iMmdc4}ARgV"MaXjQkbb}ny,DKo Qf+na,g@on-QQcQ3QjZ@oQtEXwQei, noting that there are still remnants of the SAF 31st brigade north of Abyei town but within the borders of the disputed region. Nafie promised to look into this and ensure that all SAF forces are fully withdrawn from Abyei. ICC AND US-SUDAN RELATIONS -------------- ¶10. (C) At the end of the meeting, SE Williamson offered that if Nafie wanted to discuss anything with regard to the ICC and the Security Council, to feel free to call him. Nafie acknowledged the offer but did not make any further comment. The discussions with the French in Paris the day before regarding the ICC were not raised during the meeting with SE Williamson. ¶11. (C) On the way toward the door, NCP officials - with Sayed Al Khateeb in the lead but with Nafie looking on - made an appeal to SE Williamson to look toward US-Sudan relations in the next administration. Khateeb made the familiar appeal KHARTOUM 00001510 003 OF 003 that the seeds for the CPA were sown at the end of the Clinton administration. Khateeb urged that Sudan and the US look at laying out a framework for not only solving Darfur but also improving US-Sudan relations. MEETING WITH NISS CHIEF GHOSH -------------- ¶12. (C) In a separate meeting with NISS Chief Salah Ghosh (who also attended the meeting with Nafie) SE Williamson urged &positive and specific steps8 between Sudan and Chad to end support to each other,s rebels. Williamson noted that the support &is not balanced8 given that the Chadian rebels have safe harbor in Sudan, while President Deby in fact has relied on the Sudanese JEM rebels to prop him up when under attack. Williamson offered to be helpful with JEM in particular if Sudan is willing to take the first step. ¶13. (C) Ghosh thanked SE Williamson for engaging with Sudan and on Darfur in particular. Ghosh said that he believed &you have touched the truth8 about what is actually happening in Sudan, &where we have succeeded, where we have not, where we need to do more, and where we are the victims.8 Ghosh noted that &this cannot be done in Washington8 because of the environment in the US and the emotions on Darfur. Ghosh promised to assist with humanitarian visas as well as UNAMID visas, in particular the visas for the eight US military officers who are assigned to UNAMID. Ghosh noted that the GOS had signed the joint communiqu to list impediments to humanitarian operations and fast-track NGO visas, and would do so again this year. On Sudan-Chad relations, Ghosh said &we don,t think the role of the Libyans is positive8 and said that the Sudanese had asked the French to assist with monitoring the border between the two countries. Ghosh claimed that the Sudanese are ready to commit to stop supporting Chadian rebels, but the Sudanese &need a sign that Deby will start to control his border.8 Ghosh acknowledged the recruitment of fighters into the Central Reserve Police, but quickly pointed out that they answer to the Ministry of Interior, and said that this will &get them under control8 and regularize them in the Sudanese forces. Protesting at the description of the militia as &former janjaweed,8 Ghosh claimed that he plans to recruit a diverse array of ethnic groups into the CRP, which have been used to secure routes and protect convoys for UNAMID deployment. COMMENT -------------- ¶14. (C) The regime appears to have accepted that the indictment of President Bashir may be inevitable, and for the moment is behaving calmly. Nafie himself may benefit from the indictment, and it is interesting to note that he did not raise the ICC issue at any point during the meeting. Some of the NCP insiders who are among the &group of ten8 who supported Bashir in his ouster of Turabi almost ten years ago ) such as Bebiker ) appear to be more focused on relations with the US in the next administration, at least in their dealings with embassy officials. They are eager to show as much progress as possible, to avoid a radical change in US policy at worst, while hoping that the US might become engaged in a CPA-style negotiation on Darfur that will translate into a long-term improvement in relations. The talk of doomsday scenarios if President Bashir is indicted has abated for the moment in the North, while in the South the SPLM is preparing for the worst (septel) and is correct in doing so. ¶15. (U) SE Williamson cleared this cable prior to transmission. ASQUINO