SE GRATION URGES BASSOLE TO PURSUE PEACE PROCESS WITH

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000858 DEPT FOR SE GRATION, S/USSES, AF A/S CARSON, AF/C NSC FOR MGAVIN DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: SE GRATION URGES BASSOLE TO PURSUE PEACE PROCESS WITH RENEWED VIGOR, ACCELERATED TIMELINE ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The UN/AU Joint Mediation Support Team (JMST) will continue its work with the so-called "Tripoli Group" of rebel factions and plans to hold a civil society conference in September to broaden participation in the peace process, Joint Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole told SE Gration in a July 15 meeting. In line with this expanded participation, Bassole and his team are working on a more comprehensive draft framework for the talks. SE Gration urged Bassole to build upon 2005 Declaration of Principles (DOP) and 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) rather that starting anew, and urged that the JMST accelerate its timeline and redouble its efforts towards finding a lasting political solution to the Darfur conflict. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On July 15, SE Gration met with UN/AU Joint Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole in Khartoum. Bassole stated that the "new focus" of his team is the so-called Tripoli Group of rebel factions since JEM suspended its participation in the Doha talks in June. He expressed optimism that JEM would rejoin the process if there was progress made on the issue of prisoner release (septel),but acknowledged the need to broaden participation in the Doha talks beyond JEM. SE Gration noted that JEM remains a militia movement with no broad, popular constituency. He urged Bassole to pursue his outreach to other parties with a renewed vigor to make the next round of the Doha talks a more inclusive process. ¶3. (SBU) Bassole stated that in line with broader participation anticipated in the next round of Doha talks, he and his team are attempting to draft a more comprehensive framework agreement. SE Gration urged that the JMST make use of previously agreed-upon language from both the 2005 Declaration of Principles (DoP) signed by the GOS, JEM and the SLA, as well as the 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) signed by the GOS and SLA/Minni Minnawi. Bassole agreed with SE Gration's suggestion that if he could make use of existing and agreed upon language, it would save time and move the peace process forward. ¶4. (SBU) Bassole also told SE Gration that he and his team plan to invite Darfuri civil society representatives to Doha for a consultative conference, currently being planned for September. SE Gration applauded the effort to broaden participation in the peace process, but expressed disappointment at the timing. He urged Bassole to pursue the peace process with a renewed vigor and accelerate his timeline so that a lasting political solution could be found. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: The JMST continues to be passive in its approach and will continue to require prodding and assistance from the USG to push forward the peace process. The planned civil society conference is a welcome effort to broaden participation amongst a wide spectrum of Darfurians, but sustained pressure on the JMST must be maintained to ensure it happens in a timely manner. WHITEHEAD