ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE PLENARY

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001371 SIPDIS NSC FOR MGAVIN, LELLIS ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM SU SUBJECT: ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE PLENARY RESCHEDULED ¶1. In the absence of Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) representatives, the 50th plenary meeting of the Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC) scheduled for December 8 was rescheduled to Sunday, December 13 at 10:00 AM. For representatives of AEC member countries assembled in anticipation of the December 8 plenary, Commission Chairman Sir Derek Plumbly reviewed recent developments and administrative matters. Plumbly noted that the impending crisis discussed at the November AEC plenary had transformed in the intervening month into a real crisis. Specifically, the impasse over legislation before the National Assembly had continued, and had escalated into the demonstrations held the day before. Plumbly said he planned to address the press later that day,in his personal capacity, to emphasize the need for the parties to work together to pass the legislation before the close of the current parliamentary session, and to assure implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) through elections conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner. ¶2. Plumbly pointed out several recent, positive developments. He met, at the invitation of former South African President Thabo Mbeki, with the members of the African Union High-Level Panel on Darfur to discuss the panel's new mandate with respect to the CPA. Plumbly said he was encouraged both by the mastery of detail demonstrated by panel members during their conversation and by their determination to focus on CPA implementation. While in attendance at a Juba forum on post 2011 issues, Plumbly said participants both understood and were committed to the need to begin now to engage on post referendum issues. Finally, Plumbly called the registration of 3.4 million voters a positive development, and reminded attendees that the AEC will meet with members of the National Elections Commission on December 15 to review the registration process. ¶3. Plumbly also noted that the Security Affairs Working Group had traveled to Equatoria, Blue Nile and Jonglei to investigate security in those areas, and said that the AEC staff would issue an expanded annual report, to mark the fifth anniversary of the signing of the CPA, in January 2010. WHITEHEAD