DARFUR PEACE PROCESS UPDATE - BASSOLE AND GOQ APPEAR MORE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001607 DEPT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON, AF/SPG NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: DARFUR PEACE PROCESS UPDATE - BASSOLE AND GOQ APPEAR MORE IN SYNC REF: KHARTOUM 1597 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole urged Qatar to focus first on the necessary preparations for negotiations and not on unrealistic dates for negotiations, according to senior representatives from the AU/UN's Joint Mediation Support Team (JMST). JMST contacts emphasized that the focus of the UN/AU-led peace process should not be another large "Sirte-style" meeting, but shuttle diplomacy between the GoS and the rebel movements. Qatar appears receptive to building this foundation for talks (and delaying large negotiations,) while Libya is irritated that Qatar has taken on the Darfur Peace process. END SUMMARY. JMST: MEETINGS IN QATAR WERE POSITIVE... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (SBU) On November 2, the Chief Mediator's Special Assistant, Laura Sitea, (currently in Tripoli with Bassole) told polchief that Bassole's meetings in Qatar were overall very positive. Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, the GoQ Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, was particularly helpful and seemed more realistic now about what is possible. Mahmoud and other GoQ interlocutors avoided discussing linkages with Article 16, and said they want to avoid making "the mistakes of the past." (e.g. accepting participant lists drafted by the GoS similar to what happened in Sirte.) ¶3. (SBU) Sitea reported that no dates have been set for the Doha talks, and that the Qataris originally wanted to open their Darfur initiative`itl a lirge!etent n5st nevorm!TldQUN gevedipmenr{umaitQhQ$ghQ(o~2?%!dg#0$#)gewJQEb xC{qs(fsfQQQthis issue, Sitea said that Sudanese Intelligence Chief Salah Gosh recently telephoned Bassole to offer a cease-fire (as discussed with CDA - reftel) to which the Chief Mediator replied that it should be linked to an agreed framework for the talks. Sitea stated that despite this offer, the NCP has still not provided any input on Bassole's framework, nor submitted any proposals other than what will come out of the Sudan People's Initiative. . . . BUT THE FOCUS SHOULD NOT BE ON BIG MEETINGS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (SBU) JMST Chief of Staff Yassir Sabra separately told poloff on November 2 that Bassole's Qatar trip was very positive, and emphasized that the JMST's focus should not be on large negotiations. Acccording to Sabra, the Government of Qatar (GoQ) "seems to understand that Bassole should be in charge of the process," and that the Chief Mediator told GoQ officials that November would be premature for talks. "Now Sudan and Qatar are saying that December might be better, but we think even that might be too early," stated Sabra. Sabra said that the peace process should not fixate on dates for another large meeting, but should concentrate on completing the necessary preparation for negotiations. "Progress should not be measured in holding big meetings," said Sabra. Sabra added that the Chief Mediator will spend the next few weeks shuttling between rebel leadership and the GoS, as neither is currently ready for talks. ¶5. (SBU) Sabra noted that the GoQ appears too anxious and drawn to the "limelight." The latter is not a problem, according to Sabra, as Chief Mediator Bassole "does not mind driving the process from behind the scenes." The former, i.e. Qatar's hastiness, may be detrimental because "there is no peace process, and we have to create everything from scratch." SCHEDULES OF TRAVEL AND MEETINGS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶6. (SBU) Sabra said that Bassole will return to Khartoum on November 5, having traveled to Qatar, Libya, and France all within one week. In Paris, Bassole will meet Abdul Wahid Al-Nur. (Qatari Foreign Minister will follow Bassole to Paris next week to meet Al-Nur.) Upon his return to Sudan, Bassole will meet with GoS officials before undertaking further shuttle diplomacy with rebel leadership. Bassole may also meet a high-ranking Eritrean delegation scheduled to visit Khartoum the week of November 2. Sitea also reported that a delegation of GoQ officials will give a presentation to the Qatari Initiative ministerial meeting in Cairo on November 10. LIBYA, CHAD, AND WESTERN INVOLVEMENT - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - KHARTOUM 00001607 002 OF 002 ¶7. (SBU) While the talks with Qatar were generally constructive, meetings with the Libyans were less so, reported Sitea. The Chief mediator met the Secretary of African Affairs at the Libyan Foreign Ministry, Ali Treki, on November 1 in a marathon 4-hour meeting. According to Sitea, the Libyans appeared irritated that Qatar has now taken over the Darfur peace process. Sitea also reported that the Chad-Sudan exchange of ambassadors was derailed late on November 1, as Chad suddenly pulled out. Sitea said that the Qataris told Bassole that UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown would be in Doha on November 2 to discuss (among other topics) Darfur. She also repeated that the Qataris claimed that the French have indicated that FM Kouchner would attend the Doha Darfur negotiations, which she noted would be useful as it would put pressure on the French to "deliver" Abdul Wahid. COMMENT - - - - ¶8. (SBU) If these staffers' accounts are accurate, Bassole's visit to Qatar was a success and it appears as though the GoQ and Chief mediator may now be more in sync. How the GoS will respond to this more cautious and deliberate approach remains to be seen. If the GoS urgently wants a new round of negotiations, it should offer a Darfur plan of their own to Bassole (not just the Sudan People's Initiative,) agree on the Chief Mediator's framework for Qatar, and meet with key rebels before the Doha talks. Without this, it will be very difficult to persuade the rebels to attend. This should be our message to the Qataris and the GoS. Pressing the NCP to deliver more than just words will require a coordinated approach, with pressure from the U.S., Chief Mediator, Qataris, and the international community as a whole. FERNANDEZ