SUDAN/UK: SE GRATION'S MAY 28 BILATERAL MEETINGS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LONDON 001301 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2019 TAGS: PREL EAID PINR CH SU UK SUBJECT: SUDAN/UK: SE GRATION'S MAY 28 BILATERAL MEETINGS WITH SENIOR UK OFFICIALS REF: A. BEIJING 1388 AND ASSOCIATED ¶B. STATE 55655 Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, reasons 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (C) Summary. In May 28 U.S.-UK meetings on Sudan, the UK Government welcomed Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration's approach to Sudan and offered its support for the USG's emerging strategy. Foreign Office Political Director Mark Lyall Grant welcomed SE Gration's engagement with China, while noting the previous progress that had come through tight P-3 coordination, and supported USG efforts to reinvigorate implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Foreign Office Minister for Africa Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, noting the UK's influence in Sudan, supported SE Gration's approach to dealing with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and noted it was "illogical" to have a diplomatic track for engagement without speaking to President Bashir at some stage. Simon McDonald, Foreign Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister, noted that Prime Minister Gordon Brown sees Sudan as a "personal priority" and welcomed SE Gration's comprehensive, integrated, and multilateral approach to Sudan, while also encouraging the USG to use its "different relationship with the ICC" to the international community's advantage and to use the hope of improved U.S.-Sudan bilateral relations for real progress across the board. End summary. Lyall Grant Queries on Engagement with China -------------- ¶2. (C) Foreign Office Political Director Mark Lyall Grant welcomed SE Gration's engagement with the Chinese on Sudan, efforts to support the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), and consideration of ways to improve the U.S.-Sudan bilateral relationship in support of meaningful progress. In response to Lyall Grant's question about working with China, SE Gration said that the USG and China's interests of peace, security, and stability in Sudan overlap almost 100 percent, even if the U.S. and China approach Sudan differently. Noting his positive relationship with Chinese Envoy Liu from previous assignments, Gration noted that he was personally working to develop a good relationship with China and that the Government of China (PRC) has realized it needs to begin looking at post-2011 arrangements in Sudan that will ensure protection of its assets and interests on the ground. As evidence of a productive relationship with China, SE Gration cited the very positive press release following his recent consultations with Chinese leaders, announcing the USG and PRC desire for regular exchanges and development cooperation (reftel A). The Chinese, Gration said, are "excited" about the possibilities in working together, but the USG will need to maintain engagement to ensure Sudan remains a priority issue. ¶3. (C) Responding to Lyall Grant's query about the possibility of the South's succession in 2011 after the self-determination referendum, SE Gration said the international national community needs to continue to do its part to make unity attractive and to encourage Sudan's Government of National Unity (GNU) to do the same. Khartoum needs to focus on delivering for its people, starting with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),and to cease marginalizing groups. The focus of the USG-hosted CPA Forum (reftel B) will be to "recapture the spirit of the agreement" and to ensure the international community is on the same page and doing all it can to support the CPA and making unity attractive. A key element of which will be re-invigorating the Troika and Contact Groups (septels). ¶4. (C) On the U.S.-Sudan bilateral relationship, SE Gration said "the faster the Sudanese do things, the faster we will work to improve relations." SE Gration said he continues to incorporate international NGOs in his consultations and strategy planning and will only meet with Sudanese President Bashir if there is a major deliverable attached. Lyall Grant noted the P-3 (U.S., UK, and France) had been a productive forum for getting work done with the Sudanese and galvanizing international support on Sudan issues. Malloch-Brown on Engagement with the NCP and International Community -------------- ¶5. (C) Foreign Office Minister for Africa Lord Mark Malloch-Brown welcomed SE Gration's approach to dealing with the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and noted it was "illogical" to have a diplomatic track for engagement without speaking to President Bashir at some stage. Malloch-Brown noted that a good relationship with the NCP was critical because progress across the board generally depends on the LONDON 00001301 002 OF 002 goodwill of the NCP, as NCP leaders will likely have to make concessions. He supported breaking down engagement into tasks that are rigorously tracked, as the NCP's track record is one of agreement without action. He said it would be important to ensure incentives for normalization of Sudan's relations with the international community are embedded in the process, as some NCP officials may delay normalization as a mechanism for protecting themselves against indictment as war criminals. ¶6. (C) Malloch-Brown said, in theory, he would meet with Bashir, but it would need to be tied to some major deliverable or process related to progress. Gration noted that Bashir was still the President, and at some stage, engagement with him would likely be necessary to push the more difficult issues to a decision point and that an indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC) does not constitute a conviction. ¶7. (C) At a lunch hosted by Malloch-Brown, which included Special Representative for Sudan Michael O'Neill, the PM's Special Advisor on Africa Brendan Cox, International Development Director for East Africa Dave Fish, and East Africa Intel Chief George Busby, Malloch-Brown and Cox reiterated that the UK Government was "tucked into (the USG's) elbow on Sudan policy, including intelligence, aid, and international action" and noted that the U.S. and UK are "broadly united across the board on Sudan." Malloch-Brown said the UK's "common history" with Sudan gives the UK influence that is not always "entirely obvious." Fish noted that progress on Darfur would allow the UK to free up political and development resources to support the CPA. McDonald Sees Sudan as a Priority -------------- ¶8. (C) Simon McDonald, Foreign Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister, that Prime Minister Gordon Brown sees Sudan as a "personal priority" and welcomed SE Gration's comprehensive, integrated, and multilateral approach to Sudan. McDonald, while noting Brown's personal interest in Sudan, acknowledge that it was not always at the top of Brown's agenda. McDonald said his goal was to keep Sudan "out of Brown's inbox" by ensuring progress on Darfur and the CPA, which would be possible by "working together in effective partnerships like the P-3 where there is a clear multiplier effect." McDonald encouraged SE Gration to "use the fact that USG has a different relationship to the ICC" and use the hope of improving U.S.-Sudan bilateral relations as a mechanism to pursue progress on all fronts. Noting that Sudan will require the international community "to be pragmatic in order to make progress," McDonald offered the UK Government's full support for the USG's approach. ¶9. (U) This cable was cleared by SE Gration's office. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom LeBaron