S/E GRATION MEETS WITH ARAB LEAGUE SYG MOUSSA

C O N F I D E N T I A L CAIRO 000824 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, AF/SPG E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2019 TAGS: PREL PHUM SU CD EG SUBJECT: S/E GRATION MEETS WITH ARAB LEAGUE SYG MOUSSA REF: A. 08 CAIRO 1833 ¶B. 08 CAIRO 1603 Classified By: Ambassador Margaret Scobey for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Key Points -- Special Envoy (S/E) for Sudan, J. Scott Gration, explained to with Arab League (AL) SYG, Amre Moussa the USG's immediate focus to obtain a ceasefire in Darfur to provide humanitarian assistance, an environment for a peace talks that will lead to a political solution to Darfur, and to create an opportunity to reinvigorate the CPA. -- Moussa told Gration that the AL tried to bring all the Darfuri rebels to the table, but being a rebel leader has become a "lucrative industry" that enables them to live abroad without having to return to a poor, desert life. -- Moussa said the AL was working with the African Union (AU) to facilitate the Doha process, and he was pleased that the USG was also pushing the rebels to go to Qatar. -- Moussa pointed to the CPA, the Darfur Peace Agreement, and the International Court of Justice's upcoming ruling on the Abyei border dispute as examples of Sudanese President Bashir's willingness to work with the international community. -- Moussa said he was "somewhat optimistic" about the change in the U.S. approach to Sudan, and he stated the AL was willing to work with the USG to resolve the situation in Sudan. ¶2. S/E Gration, in a meeting with Arab League (AL) SYG, Amre Moussa, explained the USG's immediate focus was to obtain a ceasefire in Darfur to provide needed humanitarian assistance, produce an environment for a peace talks that will lead to a political solution to Darfur, and create an opportunity to reinvigorate the CPA. Moussa agreed with Gration's approach, stating that the AL saw no interest in prolonging the situation in Darfur. Moussa felt that a six-month ceasefire was the right step. He also stated that the AL prefers unity is Sudan and it is working with the African Union (AU) on ways to make unity attractive. ¶2. (C) Moussa told Gration that the AL tried several times to bring all the Darfuri rebels to the table, but said that being a rebel has become a "lucrative industry" with rebel leaders sitting in Paris or LONDON without having to return to a poor, desert life. He said that the AL had been working in conjunction with the AU to facilitate the Doha process, and he was pleased that the USG was also pushing the rebels to go to Qatar. Moussa stated that the AL held two meetings on the humanitarian situation in Darfur on March 29. The AL is engaging with the Sudanese representative to the League to get a new agreement on humanitarian aid for Darfur, which would include the deployment of Arab NGOs and an increased number of specialized doctors. Moussa said that the AL is sending 20 doctors to Darfur and organizing contributions from Arab states to address humanitarian concerns. ¶3. (C) Moussa told Gration that the AL, AU, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) would meet in 10 days with the Government of Sudan (GOS) to "steer things in the right direction." He opined that Sudanese President Bashir is willing to listen, and he pointed to the CPA, the Darfur Peace Agreement, and the submission of the Abyei border dispute to the International Court of Justice as examples of Bashir's willingness to work with the international community. Moussa stated that the ICC did not deal intelligently with the GOS, and had added to the difficulties in the country. He said that the AL supported the implementation of Article 16, delaying ICC action, but he realized that the UNSC is divided on the issue. Moussa told Gration that the AL "Solution Package" for Sudan provided a realistic alternative to the ICC (reftels A-B). ¶4. (SBU) Moussa said he was "somewhat optimistic" on Sudan because the change in the U.S. approach to Sudan rebuilt confidence and opened opportunities. He said the AL was willing to work with the USG and help in any manner to resolve the situation in Sudan. ¶5. (U) S/E Gration's staff cleared this message. SCOBEY