SUDAN "VERY HAPPY" WITH UNAMID EXTENSION; U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000693 NOFORN SIPDIS DEPT. FOR IO, AF E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2018 TAGS: PREL MOPS KPKO SU SUBJECT: SUDAN "VERY HAPPY" WITH UNAMID EXTENSION; U.S. ABSTAINS Classified By: Amb. Alejandro Wolff, for reasons 1.4 b/d. ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On July 31, the Security Council renewed the mandate for the UN/AU peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) for an additional 12 months by a vote of 14-0 with the U.S. abstaining. Intense consultations preceded the 9:45 PM vote, ending when the UK rejected the possibility of a 5-day technical extension to allow the Council to reach consensus. All members except Panama and South Africa made explanations of vote; Ambassador Wolff's statement emphasized that the U.S. strongly supports UNAMID, but was unable to support the text due to unacceptable language related to Sudanese President Bashir and the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Sudanese PermRep also participated, warmly thanking the British PermRep for the UK's efforts on the resolution. End summary. ¶2. (C/NF) On July 29, the UK sponsors of the UNAMID renewal resolution bowed to pressure from Russia, China, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Libya, Indonesia and Vietnam and introduced language noting the AU Communiqu of 21 July (which specifically requests the Council to defer ICC action against Bashir under Article 16 of the Rome Statute) as well as Council members' intention to "consider these matters further." After receipt of instructions on July 30, USUN reiterated U.S. objections to the proposed language and attempted to engage the UK on potential compromise language. The UK mission rejected the U.S. proposal and put the draft in blue later that day. ¶3. (C) In consultations on July 31, AMB. Wolff attempted to bridge differences between the U.S. and other Council members in order to allow a consensus text to pass. After several hours, it became clear that African members of the Council did not have leeway in their instructions to accept deletion of reference to the AU Communiqu. Brits torpedo U.S. request for more time -------------- ¶4. (C/NF) The U.S. then tabled a 5-day technical rollover resolution in order to allow time for consultation and compromise. Costa Rica, France, Vietnam and others supported this proposal, and the Chinese overtly gave their proxy to British PermRep John Sawers in deference to the UK's role as sponsor. Sawers rejected AMB. Wolff's request that the Council be allowed to consider the U.S. proposal for a 5-day extension before voting on the British text. This effectively killed the U.S. proposal and moved the Council to a vote on the UK text. ¶5. (SBU) After the vote and U.S. abstention, 13 members and Sudan made statements, all of them reaffirming strong support for UNAMID with several members regretting that the resolution was not unanimous. The UK statement stressed that the Council was not taking a position on the ICC issue. Costa Rica and Belgium said that they would have liked stronger language on justice and impunity, with Belgium specifically rejecting the invocation of Article 16 to suspend action against Bashir. France called on Sudan to cooperate with the ICC while Italy mentioned its support for the ICC's independence. Croatia stated its support for the ICC and drew from its own history to assert that impunity does not bring stability. ¶6. (SBU) Russia's statement emphasized the importance of the AU Communiqu in the context of the AU's role in the UNAMID hybrid force and worried that the ICC action could embolden rebels. China said that it supported the position of the AU and Arab League and that it would support the AU's request for Article 16 action. Libya agreed, inviting the Council to take the "opportunity" presented by the UNAMID resolution to suspend ICC action and asking "if the Security Council will not act on Article 16 now, with two thirds of the international community requesting it, then when?" Burkina Faso said that the Council would need to revisit the ICC action and stressed its support of the AU position. Vietnam stated its support for a "comprehensive approach" and said it shared the AU's concerns, while Indonesia hoped the Security Council would honor the AU's request. ¶7. (SBU) Sudan, speaking last, effusively thanked the UK and said "my country is very happy" with the resolution. Sudan claimed to be fully committed to cooperating with UNAMID peacekeepers, and commended the AU's efforts to bring stability to the region. Sudan insisted that UN abide by the Article 16 request in the AU Communiqu and respect the USUN NEW Y 00000693 002 OF 002 sovereignty of Sudan, and strongly condemned the ICC's actions against President Bashir. Wolff