Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09DOHA557
2009-09-08 11:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Doha
Cable title:
DARFUR TALKS TO RESUME IN DOHA IN OCTOBER
how-toVZCZCXRO0236 PP RUEHBC RUEHBZ RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDU RUEHKUK RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHDO #0557/01 2511111 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 081111Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY DOHA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9378 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1406
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000557
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO S/E GRATION
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM SU QA
SUBJECT: DARFUR TALKS TO RESUME IN DOHA IN OCTOBER
Classified By: CDA Mirembe L. Nantongo for reasons 1.4 (b and d).
----------------
(SBU) KEY POINTS
----------------
-- On September 7, MFA Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Ahmed Al-Mahmoud met in Doha with African Union/United
Nations Chief Mediator for Darfur Djibril Bassole.
-- The purpose of the meeting was to establish a mechanism
for restarting the stalled Darfur peace talks.
-- On September 8, the Embassy received a communique from the
MFA announcing that talks between the Government of National
Unity of Sudan and Darfuri rebel groups would resume in Doha
in late October.
-- In advance of those talks, the communique states, Qatar
will hold a capacity building workshop. A civil society forum
aimed at promoting peace and reconciliation between the
parties will also be held "prior to the commencement of final
peace talks."
------------
(C) COMMENTS
------------
-- While the communique announces the resumption of the
talks, it does not indicate the extent to which the warring
factions in Darfur have agreed to participate.
-- Although the resumption of talks is welcome, it is
disturbing that SE Gration -- who has coordinated closely
with Al-Mahmoud -- was not consulted prior to the
announcement of these dates.
End Key Points and Comments.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DOHA 000557
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO S/E GRATION
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM SU QA
SUBJECT: DARFUR TALKS TO RESUME IN DOHA IN OCTOBER
Classified By: CDA Mirembe L. Nantongo for reasons 1.4 (b and d).
--------------
(SBU) KEY POINTS
--------------
-- On September 7, MFA Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Ahmed Al-Mahmoud met in Doha with African Union/United
Nations Chief Mediator for Darfur Djibril Bassole.
-- The purpose of the meeting was to establish a mechanism
for restarting the stalled Darfur peace talks.
-- On September 8, the Embassy received a communique from the
MFA announcing that talks between the Government of National
Unity of Sudan and Darfuri rebel groups would resume in Doha
in late October.
-- In advance of those talks, the communique states, Qatar
will hold a capacity building workshop. A civil society forum
aimed at promoting peace and reconciliation between the
parties will also be held "prior to the commencement of final
peace talks."
--------------
(C) COMMENTS
--------------
-- While the communique announces the resumption of the
talks, it does not indicate the extent to which the warring
factions in Darfur have agreed to participate.
-- Although the resumption of talks is welcome, it is
disturbing that SE Gration -- who has coordinated closely
with Al-Mahmoud -- was not consulted prior to the
announcement of these dates.
End Key Points and Comments.
1. (SBU) MFA Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed
Al-Mahmoud, Qatar's de facto Foreign Minister and the force
behind Qatar's efforts to mediate the Darfur conflict, met
September 7 in Doha with Djibril Bassole, the AU/UN Joint
Chief Mediator for Darfur. The talks were aimed at
restarting the stalled efforts to resolve the conflict.
2. (SBU) Al-Mahmoud and Bassole issued a communique at the
close of their discussions, a copy of which was faxed to the
Embassy on September 8. The communique stated that the talks
between the Government of National Unity of Sudan and armed
factions in Darfur would begin the last week of October.
3. (SBU) Before those peace talks resume, according to the
communique, there will be two workshops designed to
facilitate dialogue between the parties: the first, to be
held during the first week of October, will focus on
capacity-building, including ways to improve the security
situation in Darfur as well as socio-economic development;
the second, to be held "prior to the commencement of final
peace talks," will promote peace and reconciliation between
the parties and sustainable development in Darfur.
3. (SBU) Below is an unofficial English translation of the
communique provided by the GOQ. This translation and the
original Arabic text have been transmitted in their original
formats to S/E Gration's staff and NEA/ARP.
Begin text:
On 7 September, Mr. Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, the
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, and Mr.
Djibrill Bassole, the AU/UN Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur,
held consultations in Doha (Qatar) to discuss ways of
advancing the peace process and achieving a comprehensive and
lasting peace in Darfur.
They welcomed the initiatives undertaken to unify the Darfur
armed movements in Libya, as well as those of the U.S.
Special Representative, General Scott Gration.
Recalling the relevant provisions of the Tripoli communique
of 10 August 2009, Minister Al-Mahmoud and Mr. Bassole
expressed the hope that these unification efforts would
contribute to the cohesion of the armed movements, their
ability to develop common negotiating positions, and their
willingness to begin negotiations with the Government of
National Unity of Sudan and the Darfuri armed movements in
DOHA 00000557 002 OF 002
the last week of October 2009.
In advance of these peace talks, Minister Al-Mahmoud and Mr.
Bassole will invite the armed movements to participate
in a capacity-building workshop to be held in Doha during the
first week of October. The workshop will offer the
participants an opportunity to discuss issues related to the
peace process, including the improvement of security for the
people of Darfur and socio-economic development.
The Qatari State Minister for Foreign Affairs and the
Mediator also agreed to organize a civil society forum in
Doha with the participation of representatives of all Darfuri
communities. The civil society forum, which will be held
prior to the commencement of final peace talks, will enable
Darfur's diverse communities to contribute to the
establishment of peace and reconciliation and to promise
sustainable development in Darfur.
The State Minister and the Mediator call upon all parties to
the Darfur conflict, in particular the signatories of the
Doha Goodwill Agreement of 17 February 2009, to take all
necessary measures to foster confidence and promote dialogue
for the restoration of a lasting peace in Darfur.
Nantongo
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO S/E GRATION
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM SU QA
SUBJECT: DARFUR TALKS TO RESUME IN DOHA IN OCTOBER
Classified By: CDA Mirembe L. Nantongo for reasons 1.4 (b and d).
--------------
(SBU) KEY POINTS
--------------
-- On September 7, MFA Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Ahmed Al-Mahmoud met in Doha with African Union/United
Nations Chief Mediator for Darfur Djibril Bassole.
-- The purpose of the meeting was to establish a mechanism
for restarting the stalled Darfur peace talks.
-- On September 8, the Embassy received a communique from the
MFA announcing that talks between the Government of National
Unity of Sudan and Darfuri rebel groups would resume in Doha
in late October.
-- In advance of those talks, the communique states, Qatar
will hold a capacity building workshop. A civil society forum
aimed at promoting peace and reconciliation between the
parties will also be held "prior to the commencement of final
peace talks."
--------------
(C) COMMENTS
--------------
-- While the communique announces the resumption of the
talks, it does not indicate the extent to which the warring
factions in Darfur have agreed to participate.
-- Although the resumption of talks is welcome, it is
disturbing that SE Gration -- who has coordinated closely
with Al-Mahmoud -- was not consulted prior to the
announcement of these dates.
End Key Points and Comments.
1. (SBU) MFA Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed
Al-Mahmoud, Qatar's de facto Foreign Minister and the force
behind Qatar's efforts to mediate the Darfur conflict, met
September 7 in Doha with Djibril Bassole, the AU/UN Joint
Chief Mediator for Darfur. The talks were aimed at
restarting the stalled efforts to resolve the conflict.
2. (SBU) Al-Mahmoud and Bassole issued a communique at the
close of their discussions, a copy of which was faxed to the
Embassy on September 8. The communique stated that the talks
between the Government of National Unity of Sudan and armed
factions in Darfur would begin the last week of October.
3. (SBU) Before those peace talks resume, according to the
communique, there will be two workshops designed to
facilitate dialogue between the parties: the first, to be
held during the first week of October, will focus on
capacity-building, including ways to improve the security
situation in Darfur as well as socio-economic development;
the second, to be held "prior to the commencement of final
peace talks," will promote peace and reconciliation between
the parties and sustainable development in Darfur.
3. (SBU) Below is an unofficial English translation of the
communique provided by the GOQ. This translation and the
original Arabic text have been transmitted in their original
formats to S/E Gration's staff and NEA/ARP.
Begin text:
On 7 September, Mr. Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, the
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, and Mr.
Djibrill Bassole, the AU/UN Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur,
held consultations in Doha (Qatar) to discuss ways of
advancing the peace process and achieving a comprehensive and
lasting peace in Darfur.
They welcomed the initiatives undertaken to unify the Darfur
armed movements in Libya, as well as those of the U.S.
Special Representative, General Scott Gration.
Recalling the relevant provisions of the Tripoli communique
of 10 August 2009, Minister Al-Mahmoud and Mr. Bassole
expressed the hope that these unification efforts would
contribute to the cohesion of the armed movements, their
ability to develop common negotiating positions, and their
willingness to begin negotiations with the Government of
National Unity of Sudan and the Darfuri armed movements in
DOHA 00000557 002 OF 002
the last week of October 2009.
In advance of these peace talks, Minister Al-Mahmoud and Mr.
Bassole will invite the armed movements to participate
in a capacity-building workshop to be held in Doha during the
first week of October. The workshop will offer the
participants an opportunity to discuss issues related to the
peace process, including the improvement of security for the
people of Darfur and socio-economic development.
The Qatari State Minister for Foreign Affairs and the
Mediator also agreed to organize a civil society forum in
Doha with the participation of representatives of all Darfuri
communities. The civil society forum, which will be held
prior to the commencement of final peace talks, will enable
Darfur's diverse communities to contribute to the
establishment of peace and reconciliation and to promise
sustainable development in Darfur.
The State Minister and the Mediator call upon all parties to
the Darfur conflict, in particular the signatories of the
Doha Goodwill Agreement of 17 February 2009, to take all
necessary measures to foster confidence and promote dialogue
for the restoration of a lasting peace in Darfur.
Nantongo