SUDAN: TIMOTHY SHORTLEY'S 16 NOVEMBER VISIT TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001650

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2019
TAGS: PREL EUN XW SU
SUBJECT: SUDAN: TIMOTHY SHORTLEY'S 16 NOVEMBER VISIT TO
BRUSSELS

Classified By: USEU/POL MC Christopher Davis for reasons 1.4 b/d


1. (C) SUMMARY: On Monday, November 16,lp with development, giveratified the
Cotonou AQ fourth waQd elements for
successful CPA implementation: census/elections, the
referendum, a national security law, the Abyei Referendum,
and popular consultations. He also expressed concern that
there was no unified approach among donors to react to
conflict.


5. (C) Lastly, Shortley discussed the rebel unification
effort, saying there was likely to be a Darfur conference in
Darfur in the coming months. The conference is supported by
the United States, the Dutch and the Swiss. He asked if
Sweden might be able to provide some support bilaterally (not
in its capacity as the EU Presidency) to make the conference
a success. Ndisi responded positively and said he would pass
the request to Stockholm.


6. (C) Shortley then met with EUSR Brylle and his political
advisor Catherine Uttenthal. Shortley informed Brylle that
SE Gration would be in Khartoum, Abyei, and Darfur November
16-23, where he would press the Sudanese on the CPA package.
A key issue for the NCP is the criteria for determining Abyei
residence, as this has implications for who can vote in the
Abyei referendum.


7. (SBU) Brylle said EU High Representative Solana would
meet First VP and President of the Government of Southern
Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit in Brussels that day. (NOTE:
According to a press release from Solana's cabinet, the two
discussed the urgent need to complete the implementation of
the CPA. Solana underlined the EU's commitment to the CPA in
its entirety. Kiir said that considerable international
support is needed to address the huge development deficit.
The recent "compact" agreed between the South and major
donors provided a model, with the government accepting
obligations on governance, accountability and anti-corruption
and with donors committing to financial and technical
assistance. END NOTE)


8. (C) Brylle noted, as had the Swedes earlier, that Sudan's
failure to ratify the Contonou Agreement, because of the ICC
clause, put the European Commission in a difficult position,
since lack of ratification made it hard to access the
European Development Fund for ACP countries. He added that
security was worsening in the south. Brylle said the
Egyptians were just recently in Brussels and they left a
non-paper which he offered to scan and send to Shortley,
along with a notation of the comment they made verbally on
the idea of postponing the referendum. Brylle said the
Egyptians want Sudanese unity, and they have some Nile Basin
issues. Meanwhile, delegates from Kenya, Uganda, and Eritrea
meeting in Sharm el Sheik were convinced the South would vote
for separation. Since the Sudan People's Liberation Movement
(SPLM) is not going to negotiate on the referendum, it is

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essential that there be "constructive discussions" on how the
southern leaders see 2011. "Peaceful co-existence requires
that," noted Brylle.


9. (C) Brylle concurred with Shortley about the April 2010
elections, despite problems seen in other elections in Gaza,
Beirut, and Afghanistan. Brylle opined that political
engineering might get it right, adding that, even though the
National Congress Party (NCP) has been very disciplined under
ICC pressure, it does not mean there will not be a paradigm
shift. Brylle said the Commission would establish terms of
reference on an EU election observer mission "later this
week," and that there would be a Commission "exploratory
mission" to Sudan Dec. 5-16, with its report due out in
January, which is too late to correct these flaws. Shortley
suggested they meet with the Carter Center people there.

KENNARD