DOHA DARFUR TALKS SITREP THREE (E6 MEETING)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DOHA 000358

SENSITIVE

FOR AF/SPG AND NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SU CD QA UK RS FR CH EUN UN AU
SUBJECT: DOHA DARFUR TALKS SITREP THREE (E6 MEETING)

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(SBU) KEY POINTS
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-- E6 (P5 plus EU) Envoys for Sudan met May 27 in Doha with Qatari
State Minister Al-Mahmoud and AU/UN Joint Mediator Bassole to review
the status of the Doha process on Darfur.

-- During a session open to press, E6 Envoys voiced strong support
for, and confidence in, the Doha process. Most Envoys called for
expanding engagement in the process to include civil society, noted
the close links between Darfur and Sudan's North-South issues, and
emphasized the importance of peace in Darfur to wider regional
stability.

-- During a closed session, Al-Mahmoud and Bassole were sober about
the parties' lack of progress and worried about continued fighting
on the ground in Darfur. The UK and Russian Envoys called for
closer coordination with other players such as Libya and Egypt, a
point not entirely welcomed by Al-Mahmoud.

-- The Envoys' Final Statement has been emailed to S/USSES staff and
is accessible online via the Qatar News Agency at:
http://www.qnaol.net/QNAEn/Local_News/Politic s/Pages/
TheStatementIssuedbytheMeeting233927052009.as px.

End Key Points.

Open Session
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1. (U) Each representative gave an opening statement during a
plenary meeting open to the press. Highlights of the statements
follow.

Qatar
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2. (U) Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (and GOQ Sudan
lead) Ahmed Al-Mahmoud opened the public session by thanking the E6
representatives for their countries' support of the Doha process.
He argued the Darfur solution must be based on a broad national
consensus which, inter alia, "underlines both the unity of Sudan and
its territorial integrity." Al-Mahmoud called for the
implementation of past agreements between the warring parties. He
outlined several pillars of the Qatari-AU/UN process: engagement of
all parties to the conflict, including civil society; cessation of
hostilities; achievement of a just peace with tangible effects on
the ground; the need for an unobstructed flow of humanitarian
assistance; and reconciliation. Al-Mahmoud concluded by calling for
the continued strong support of the international community for the
Doha process.

AU/UN
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3. (U) AU/UN Joint Chief Mediator Djibrill Bassole lauded the E6
participation which underscores the international community's
confidence in the process and determination to coordinate efforts
toward peace. He lamented the actions by Chadian rebel groups which
have violated the early May Good Will Agreement, and underscored the
importance of good Sudan-Chad relations in achieving peace in
Darfur. Bassole outlined the impasse between the JEM and GOS on
prisoner exchanges and cessation of hostilities, with neither party
showing flexibility. He noted that of the main groups, only the SLM
remains outside the process and he is hopeful SLM leader Abdulwahid
Nur will soon come to the table. Bassole said he will now focus his
efforts on a framework agreement and, at minimum, a cessation of
hostilities.

China
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4. (U) Chinese Envoy Liu Guijin called on all of Darfur's opposition
groups to take part in the Doha talks. He emphasized the close
linkages between Darfur and North-South peace issues. Guijin noted
recent Chinese government donations to a trust fund and other
assistance projects to benefit the people of Darfur.

European Union
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5. (U) EU Envoy Torben Brylle, while noting the EU was the largest
contributor to humanitarian assistance in Darfur, underscored the EU
is ready to begin development assistance as peace takes hold. He
also called on other parties to join peace talks, including the
people of Darfur - so there are more voices than just armed groups
and the government. Brylle emphasized the importance of an
effective UNAMID deployment which could protect humanitarian support
networks.
France
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6. (U) French Presidential Advisor Bruno Joubert emphasized the
urgent need for progress in Darfur, due to the widespread
humanitarian effects of the conflict, the potential for regional
instability, and the consequences of failure in Darfur on
North-South CPA issues. He said the crisis in Darfur is the origin
of the Chad-Sudan tensions, and not a result of those tensions.
Joubert called for the Government of Sudan to give a true signal and
concrete demonstration of its willingness to negotiate, and stop the
illusion of a military solution to problems in Darfur. Likewise, he
called for the JEM to accept negotiations open to other rebel
movements and populations in Darfur. Joubert concluded that the
peace process must include all the key players, including Libya and
Egypt, and SLM participation is indispensible.
Russia
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7. (U) Russian Envoy Mikhail Margelov cast Russia's interest in
Sudan in a wide context, noting that Russia is coming back to the
African continent and "raising old ties." However, Moscow is not
doing so in a Cold War bipolarity mindset but in order to protect
its economic interests and the stability of the continent. While
expressing full support for the Qatari initiative and AU/UN
mediation, Margelov also welcomed Libya's efforts. He cast doubt on
Sudanese government control over all the rebel groups. Margelov
affirmed Russia's readiness to do "full-scale humanitarian
assistance" for Darfur, especially where it could be helpful on
logistics. Finally, he opined that the ICC indictment of Bashir
does not solve problems in Darfur or serve the wider cause of
peace.

United Kingdom
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8. (U) UK Envoy Michael O'Neill focused on three points of
commonality among the Envoys: the need for political will on Darfur;
the importance of flexibility in the process; and the need to
include other parties, especially civil society. He emphasized that
the Doha process is the key, though other efforts should be welcome.
O'Neill argued the ICC indictment of Bashir is a symptom, and not a
cause, of Sudan's problems, and illustrates the complexity of Sudan
issues. He concluded by challenging the E6 to have one strong voice
on Darfur - tactical differences are fine but the international
community must not let its message get diluted.

Closed Session
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9. (U) Following the open session, the representatives held a
closed-door discussion of the current status of the process and
debated a way forward.


10. (SBU) Qatar's Al-Mahmoud noted the collective emphasis on and
importance of the SLM's participation in the process, and a
Chad-Sudan resolution as a basis for peace. He further noted the
very important work of the Special Envoy in getting the JEM to
return to the talks. He noted he had recently returned from Sudan
and Chad where he delivered messages from the Amir of Qatar on the
importance of self-restraint between the two countries and the need
for them to actively support the Doha process. Al-Mahmoud reported
that both countries' leaders made promises in this regard, though he
worried that "one capital" believes it can defeat the rebels and
will fight. Al-Mahmoud says he responded that the international
community will be against them if they undertake further hostile
acts. He noted his continued collaboration with Libya and said he
would visit Libya, Chad, and Sudan again soon.


11. (SBU) AU/UN Mediator Bassole announced he would inform all the
parties, especially JEM, that prisoner issues must not become a
tripping point. Likewise, a cessation of hostilities is essential
to any progress and unfortunately there is no "good will" evident on
the ground, as fighting continues. Bassole noted his efforts to
fold-in to the process two other sets of groups: small factions
under the JEM umbrella who officially declared their participation
in the Doha process; and the "Tripoli groups" who he had encouraged
to unite with the others and participate in talks. Bassole said the
JEM does not accept these latter groups but it cannot necessarily
oppose their participation in the process. Bassole declared his
desire to integrate and engage civil society groups, seeing them as
complementary to the armed movements. He concluded by calling for
the Envoys' support on bettering Chad-Sudan relations.


12. (SBU) French Advisor Joubert worried that on Chad-Sudan, the
international community is witnessing just the latest iteration of
an annual occurrence whereby promises are broken and violence breaks
out. With the rainy season approaching in Darfur, it is essential
to keep the process moving quickly. Moreover, JEM will be
strengthened the more time elapses and therefore less likely to
deal.


13. (SBU) UK Envoy O'Neill returned to the need for flexibility in
the process, calling on Qatar and the AU/UN Mediator to be ready to
meet other parties outside of Doha if that would be helpful. He
cited Libya and Egypt as two countries worthy of greater inclusion.
O'Neill offered that perhaps the international community and the E6
leaders are not as seized with Sudan as they should be, and there is
not enough coherence on the main issues.


14. (SBU) Picking up on O'Neill's comments on other actors,
Al-Mahmoud responded that there are many parties interested in Sudan
though it is often for their own interests. He welcomed wider
involvement, but only when it was positive. (Note: a not-so-subtle
dig at Egypt and possibly others).


15. (SBU) Russian Envoy Margelov agreed with O'Neill that Sudan
needs to be elevated as an important issue for each country's
leader. He noted a recent G-8 meeting in Rome where the
participants decided to encourage elevation of Sudan to the G-8
leaders' summit agenda this summer. Margelov also called for a
broader view of Sudan issues, keeping in mind that other neighbors
such as Uganda and Kenya have views on North-South CPA issues. He
noted that Russia intended to host a conference on Sudan in
September to further refine international approaches to these
issues.


16. (SBU) Al-Mahmoud added that the AU feels south Sudan
independence would be disastrous for the African continent, and
senior AU officials underscored the seriousness of their concerns
several times to him.


17. (SBU) In the session's final comment, Chinese Envoy Guijin
welcomed SE Gration's statement that he would try to bring SLM
leader Nur into the Doha process.


18. (U) SE Gration's delegation has cleared this cable.

LEBARON