LIBYA: TRI-LATERAL DIPLOMACY IS THE WAY FORWARD ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TRIPOLI 000719

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/MAG, AF/C, AND AF/SPG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/11/2018
TAGS: PREL PBTS UN CD SU LY
SUBJECT: LIBYA: TRI-LATERAL DIPLOMACY IS THE WAY FORWARD ON
CHAD-SUDAN CONFLICT

REF: A. A. STATE 88188

B. B. NDJAMENA 334

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CLASSIFIED BY: Chris Stevens, CDA, Embassy Tripoli, Department
of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)

1. (C) Summary. Dr. Ali Treiki, Secretary for African Affairs
in the General People's Committee for Foreign Liaison and
International Cooperation (MFA-equivalent),is optimistic that
Chad and Sudan can be brought to the table to make peace through
Libya's tri-lateral efforts. Treiki said the "Group of Three"
(Treiki and the Chadian and Sudanese foreign ministers) is "the
only effective group," contrasting it against the Contact Group
(CG),which he characterized as "not being neighbors, like we
are, to the conflict." While Libya plans to attend the CG
meeting in Asmara on September 12, Treiki thought that
agreements reached in Sirte and Tripoli over the past two years
have a better chance of success than the Dakar agreement signed
in March 2008. Treiki dismissed the African Union peacekeepers
as poorly trained and undisciplined. He preferred that a joint
Chadian-Sudanese force be deployed to Darfur after Presidents
Deby and Bashir make peace. Libya strongly opposes the recent
charges brought against President Bashir in the International
Criminal Court (ICC),and Treiki predicted most African and Arab
countries will withdraw from the Treaty of Rome if the
indictment goes forward. Treiki invited Special Envoy
Williamson to visit Tripoli in early-to-mid October. We think a
visit next month could be useful. End Summary.

LIBYA'S TRI-LATERAL DIPLOMACY SUPERCEDES DAKAR PROCESS


2. (C) CDA met with MFA's Dr. Ali Treiki just one day after
Libya celebrated the auspicious 9th anniversary of the September
9, 1999 Sirte Proclamation, which launched the African Union and
is seen here as the road to a "United States of Africa." Libya
feels that the conflict between Sudan and Chad is an African
problem that demands an African solution. Treiki was optimistic
that the peace process is moving forward and Libya will attend a
meeting of the Contact Group (CG) in Asmara on September 12.
Treiki said the CG plays an important role, but he thought it
was relatively ineffective because it is comprised of states
that are too far removed from the conflict to understand the
complex issues involved. Instead, in Treiki's view, the "Group
of Three" -- consisting of Dr. Treiki and the foreign ministers
from Chad and Sudan -- is the body that will bring results. He
highlighted the distance from Dakar and Asmara to the Sudan/Chad
border, saying that Libya alone shared a frontier with the
conflict.


3. (C) Treiki also opposed a proposed Arab League meeting in
Doha on the issue, again saying that African problems should be
dealt with in Africa. He was optimistic that Libya can broker
and implement a viable solution with both parties soon.
President Deby, he says, is "keen to cooperate" and Chad will
work with Libya "regardless of [Deby's] relationship with the
government in Sudan." Treiki confirmed that he has ongoing
contact with rebel leaders -- most of whom have returned to
Darfur and Chad -- but thinks that demobilization requires that
both governments reconcile their differences first.


4. (C) Libya, he said, views peace in Darfur as essential for
the security of Chad. Unfortunately, the international
peacekeepers in Darfur are "poorly trained" and "are the worst
troops from each nation." Libya believes that a stable
settlement will require a bilateral peacekeeping force
consisting of both Chadian and Sudanese troops who will have
more incentive to keep peace.

BASHIR AND THE ICC


5. (C) Part of Treiki's confidence in Libya's chances for a
breakthrough stems from his assessment that Bashir is ready for
peace. The CDA asked if the recent charges brought against
Bashir by the ICC had anything to do with his readiness, to
which Treiki responded, "No, no, no. It is not true that this
helps. It is very bad. We should have avoided it; it will hurt
the peace process." In general, Libya feels strongly that
genocide cases should be tried within the Sudanese judicial
system. Speaking on behalf of all Arabs and Africans, he said
that they all stood in opposition to the ICC. According to
Treiki, Arabs won't recognize a conviction in front of the court
and he expects most African and Arab states to withdraw from the
Treaty of Rome if the Bashir indictment goes forward. He twice
asked if we knew "who was behind the charges."

COOPERATION WITH THE US


6. (C) Treiki signaled that his window of opportunity to broker
peace will be short-lived because he will take up a new
responsibility next spring. After two stints as Foreign
Minister and three as Libya's PermRep in New York, Treiki is
looking forward to a new UN tour, this time as the African
representative to the UNGA. Though he will not start his duties
until June of 2009, he plans to travel to the US for

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consultations as early as March. He expressed gratitude for his
ongoing dialogue with A/S Frazer, and gave an impressive
recitation of his friends in the US government dating back 40
years. He asked the CDA to extend an invitation to Special
Envoy Williamson to visit Tripoli in early- or mid-October.


7. (C) Comment: Libyan Leader Muammar al-Qadhafi sees himself
as a major player in African issues and Dr. Treiki is his point
man on the conflict between Chad and Sudan and the situation in
Darfur. We strongly support a visit to Tripoli by Special Envoy
Williamson to Tripoli in October, if the timing can be worked
out. End Comment.
STEVENS