LETTER TO INCOMING AU COMMISSION CHAIRMAN JEAN

UNCLAS STATE 038576 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO SU SUBJECT: LETTER TO INCOMING AU COMMISSION CHAIRMAN JEAN PING ON APPOINTMENT OF A CHIEF MEDIATOR TO UN/AU JOINT MEDIATION SUPPORT TEAM ¶1. (U) This is an action request. The USAU Permanent Representative is requested, jointly with other Contact Group Permanent Representatives, to sign the following letter to Incoming AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping. Begin Text -------------- Chairman Ping, As supporters of the UN/AU-led Darfur peace process, we commend your efforts to resolve the Darfur conflict and deploy UNAMID, and to improve the humanitarian situation. We are highly appreciative of the efforts of UN Special Envoy Eliasson and AU Special Envoy Salim to advance the peace process. We remain concerned, however, that a Joint Chief Mediator has yet to be appointed. We therefore support the current Envoys in their view that having a single mediator working with the Government of Sudan, rebel movements, and other stakeholders, and providing day-to-day leadership of the Joint Mediation Support Team, will be crucial for the success of the peace process. Such a mediator should be acceptable to all parties, dedicated full-time to the issue of resolving the Darfur conflict, and of a sufficiently high rank as to compel the attention of the parties and the international community. He or she should be willing to live and work full time in Sudan, and if not based in Darfur, should be willing to travel there regularly and for extended periods. At the recent Meeting of the International Partners in Geneva, there was consensus that the appointment of a Chief Mediator is an urgent and important next step in moving the Darfur peace process forward. We count on such a step to translate into significant progress for the UN/AU process at this particular juncture. We believe this issue to be extremely urgent, and respectfully request your immediate attention. We reiterate our appreciation for the work of Special Envoys Eliasson and Salim, and your personal dedication to the resolution of the Darfur conflict. We also remain committed to peace in Darfur and in the rest of Sudan, and are ready to assist your efforts as the process moves forward. Sincerely AU Permreps for United States United Kingdom Canada France Netherlands Norway EU Cc: Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, United Nations Secretary General POINT OF CONTACT -------------- ¶5. Please contact AF/SPG Marti Flacks at 202-647-5796 for any necessary further information. RICE