Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LONDON696
2009-03-19 16:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy London
Cable title:
SUDAN/DARFUR: LONDON'S INITIAL REACTIONS TO
how-toVZCZCXRO4145 OO RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHLO #0696 0781640 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 191640Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1759 INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1411
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000696
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SU AF UK
SUBJECT: SUDAN/DARFUR: LONDON'S INITIAL REACTIONS TO
DISCUSSION OF UNSC RESOLUTION
REF: A. USUN 272
B. STATE 26373
Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, reasons 1.4 (b/d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 000696
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SU AF UK
SUBJECT: SUDAN/DARFUR: LONDON'S INITIAL REACTIONS TO
DISCUSSION OF UNSC RESOLUTION
REF: A. USUN 272
B. STATE 26373
Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C/NF) According to UK Special Representative for Sudan
Michael O'Neill and Sudan Unit Deputy Bruce Bucknell, the UK
remains opposed to UN Security Council action on the
situation in Darfur, as described reftel A, for the reasons
listed below. O'Neill said UK Government officials plan to
seek ministerial approval to continue opposing any UN action
on Darfur at this time.
- UN action at this point - when Government of Sudan (GoS)
flexibility may still be possible - may harden the GoS's
position even further, causing even more limited access in
Darfur.
- There is no clear idea of what a resolution will achieve.
In particular, O'Neill noted to Poloff that a no-fly zone,
when previously examined, had been determined to be
unfeasible to implement and possibly detrimental to UNAMID
activities.
- Moving forward with a UNSC resolution will likely trigger a
strong resurgence of calls for an Article 16 deferment of
President Bashir's International Criminal Court (ICC)
indictment for "humanitarian reasons," putting the UK in a
difficult position between support for the ICC and
humanitarian relief in Darfur.
- An OCHA briefing should precede any action in the UN so
that the Council can act with a full understanding of the
humanitarian situation on the ground and the real-term impact
of the NGOs' expulsion.
2. (C/NF) Bucknell noted there is a P5 Foreign Ministers
meeting in London on April 1, and the Sudan Unit is pressing
for Darfur to be on the agenda. Bucknell suggested the
Foreign Ministers' meeting would be an ideal opportunity to
"squeeze the Chinese."
Comment
--------------
3. (C/NF) The UK generally prefers a "constructive
engagement" approach when dealing with Sudan's National
Congress Party (NCP) and thinks that a policy of engagement
has led to greater regime flexibility than more hard-edged
approaches. The UK continues to try to de-link the ICC
indictment from the humanitarian situation and wants to avoid
P3 isolation on this issue, especially with the current
strong Arab League-African Union consensus opposing the
indictment (reftel B).
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
LEBARON
SIPDIS
NOFORN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SU AF UK
SUBJECT: SUDAN/DARFUR: LONDON'S INITIAL REACTIONS TO
DISCUSSION OF UNSC RESOLUTION
REF: A. USUN 272
B. STATE 26373
Classified By: Political Counselor Richard Mills, reasons 1.4 (b/d).
1. (C/NF) According to UK Special Representative for Sudan
Michael O'Neill and Sudan Unit Deputy Bruce Bucknell, the UK
remains opposed to UN Security Council action on the
situation in Darfur, as described reftel A, for the reasons
listed below. O'Neill said UK Government officials plan to
seek ministerial approval to continue opposing any UN action
on Darfur at this time.
- UN action at this point - when Government of Sudan (GoS)
flexibility may still be possible - may harden the GoS's
position even further, causing even more limited access in
Darfur.
- There is no clear idea of what a resolution will achieve.
In particular, O'Neill noted to Poloff that a no-fly zone,
when previously examined, had been determined to be
unfeasible to implement and possibly detrimental to UNAMID
activities.
- Moving forward with a UNSC resolution will likely trigger a
strong resurgence of calls for an Article 16 deferment of
President Bashir's International Criminal Court (ICC)
indictment for "humanitarian reasons," putting the UK in a
difficult position between support for the ICC and
humanitarian relief in Darfur.
- An OCHA briefing should precede any action in the UN so
that the Council can act with a full understanding of the
humanitarian situation on the ground and the real-term impact
of the NGOs' expulsion.
2. (C/NF) Bucknell noted there is a P5 Foreign Ministers
meeting in London on April 1, and the Sudan Unit is pressing
for Darfur to be on the agenda. Bucknell suggested the
Foreign Ministers' meeting would be an ideal opportunity to
"squeeze the Chinese."
Comment
--------------
3. (C/NF) The UK generally prefers a "constructive
engagement" approach when dealing with Sudan's National
Congress Party (NCP) and thinks that a policy of engagement
has led to greater regime flexibility than more hard-edged
approaches. The UK continues to try to de-link the ICC
indictment from the humanitarian situation and wants to avoid
P3 isolation on this issue, especially with the current
strong Arab League-African Union consensus opposing the
indictment (reftel B).
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Unit ed_Kingdom
LEBARON