Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DOHA289
2009-04-30 13:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Doha
Cable title:  

FM OF CHAD'S DOHA MEETING WITH SE GRATION

Tags:  PREL PHUM SU QA 
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VZCZCXRO6964
RR RUEHJO
DE RUEHDO #0289 1201301
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301301Z APR 09ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY DOHA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9013
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS DOHA 000289 

SIPDIS, SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM SU QA
SUBJECT: FM OF CHAD'S DOHA MEETING WITH SE GRATION

KEY POINTS:
-- Chadian FM Fekki told Special Envoy for Sudan Gration April 29
that Chad has lost confidence in Sudan's willingness to live up to
its commitments and welcomes the international community's
intervention as guarantors.

-- Fekki agreed with SE Gration's approach to reducing violence, but
stopped short of promising Chad's help, as SE Gration had requested,
to encourage Khalil Ibrahim to travel to Doha in early May for more
mediation.

-- The FM encouraged SE Gration to raise the issue directly with
President Deby. He also noted that Chad had agreed to facilitate SE
Gration's meeting in Chad with Ibrahim.

-- Fekki said President Deby of Chad is pragmatic, like SE Gration,
and would pressure Ibrahim if convinced it is the right thing to do.


End Key Points.

UNCLAS DOHA 000289

SIPDIS, SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM SU QA
SUBJECT: FM OF CHAD'S DOHA MEETING WITH SE GRATION

KEY POINTS:
-- Chadian FM Fekki told Special Envoy for Sudan Gration April 29
that Chad has lost confidence in Sudan's willingness to live up to
its commitments and welcomes the international community's
intervention as guarantors.

-- Fekki agreed with SE Gration's approach to reducing violence, but
stopped short of promising Chad's help, as SE Gration had requested,
to encourage Khalil Ibrahim to travel to Doha in early May for more
mediation.

-- The FM encouraged SE Gration to raise the issue directly with
President Deby. He also noted that Chad had agreed to facilitate SE
Gration's meeting in Chad with Ibrahim.

-- Fekki said President Deby of Chad is pragmatic, like SE Gration,
and would pressure Ibrahim if convinced it is the right thing to do.


End Key Points.


1. (SBU) Chadian FM Moussa Fekki outlined for Special Envoy for
Sudan Scott Gration April 29 the deterioration in relations between
Chad and Sudan, starting about 2002. He noted early efforts by Chad
and President Deby in 2002-04 to stop the conflict in Darfur and
keep it from spreading into a regional war. Particularly bothersome
to Chad was Sudan's attempt to overthrow the Chadian regime while
refugees were on the move to Chad's eastern border. In contrast to
the previous era, when Fekki said Sudan and Chad enjoyed good
relations, Sudan now accuses Chad, he said, of sponsoring attacks.



2. (SBU) Fekki said Chadians see themselves as victims. They do
not consider Sudanese-sponsored attacks in border areas against Chad
- carried out by armed groups living on the Sudanese side of the
border - in the same league as "unrealistic" Sudanese accusations of
Chadian sponsorship of attacks deep into the interior of Sudan.


3. (SBU) The merits of the issues aside, Fekki told SE Gration, who
was accompanied by Ambassador, S/USSES Deputy to SE Gration Tim
Shortley and P/E Chief Rice, that Chad has "lost confidence in
Sudan" and the latter party's "desire and capacity to implement the
many agreements" that both countries have signed in recent years.
In Chad's view, Sudan has not fulfilled its obligations.


4. (SBU) Only through efforts of the international community, acting
as guarantors, could confidence between Sudan and Chad be
re-established and bilateral relations improved, said Fekki. In
this vein, Chad very much welcomes U.S. efforts to reduce tensions
with Sudan.


5. (SBU) SE Gration expressed his support for Libyan and Qatri
efforts to mediate the disputes between Sudanand Chad and said the
U.S. would be as supportiv as possible in reducing the violence
along the brder. Noting his scheduled meeting with PresidentDeby
in the coming days, SE Gration asked the FMfor Chad's support in
bringing Khalil Ibrahim ofthe Justice and Equality Movement(JEM)
to Doha May 3-4 for discussions that would lead to an interim
cease-fire, especially along the border, and help create space for
resolving the bilateral and Darfur-centered disputes.


6. (SBU) FM Fekki stopped short of supporting Ibrahim's travel to
Doha in early May. Fekki did state, however, that Ndjamena would
facilitate Ibrahim's arrival in the capital for his meeting with
Gration. He nonetheless agreed with SE Gration's approach and
encouraged him to take up the subject of Ibrahim directly with
President Deby. Noting SE Gration's plan was realistic and Deby is
pragmatic and not an ideologue, Fekki observed that Deby would exert
the pressure on Ibrahim once he was convinced it is the right
approach.


7. (SBU) Fekki observed that President Deby and SE Gration share a
history of flying airplanes and are both practical men. Fekki
closed the meeting by telling SE Gration his bigger challenge will
be dealing with the ideological elements in Sudan.


8. (U) SE Gration has cleared this message.

LEBARON