US-NORWAY PARTNERSHIP ON SUDAN ADVANCED BY SE

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000456 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF A/S CARSON, SE GRATION, S/USSES NSC FOR MGAVIN, AF/C, AF/E, ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/21/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC AU SU NO SUBJECT: US-NORWAY PARTNERSHIP ON SUDAN ADVANCED BY SE GRATION VISIT Classified By: Political Counselor Cherrie Daniels for reasons 1.4(b) a nd (d) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In two days of meetings on July 11 and 13, Special Envoy Gration had productive and informative bilateral and trilateral meetings with high-level Norwegian and British counterparts, as well as a session with Foreign Minister Stoere. Post expects that the visit will result in increased US-Norway cooperation/coordination on Sudan. All "Troika" (US-UK-Norway) participants agreed that they should work together to push the parties toward CPA implementation, given their historical role in the CPA process. End Summary. Stoere -------------- ¶2. (C) Reflecting Norway's continuing high-level involvement with Sudan issues, Foreign Minister Stoere interrupted his vacation to schedule a 30 minute meeting with Gration to kick off Special Envoy's visit, during which Stoere appeared engaged and impressed. Stoere emphasized the importance of the Troika "showing its profile," agreeing that it gives confidence to the South. He also agreed that the issue of International Criminal Court (ICC) accountability for Bashir was tricky given the need to continue to engage the North in order to achieve our multiple objectives in Sudan, and approached the subject carefully in the press availability after the meeting. Participants -------------- ¶3. (C) The troika meeting comprised, from Norway, Political Director of the MFA Vegard Ellefsen, Deputy Director for East Africa Hans Jacob Frydenlund, Ambassador to Sudan Svein Sevje, and Sudan Coordinator Endre Stiansen; from the UK, Special Envoy Michael O'Neill and Senior Advisor Tom Meek. The subsequent bilateral meeting with just the Norwegians added the MFA's Tom Vraalsen, former chairman of the Assessment and Evaluation Commission. Key messages from the Norwegians -------------- ¶4. (C) The Norwegians emphasized the need to increase Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) capacity, particularly in Northern Sudan, and building SPLM buy-in and confidence. They were in firm agreement with SE Gration's "verify, then trust" approach to the National Congress Party (NCP). They also emphasized re-involving the World Bank and IMF as much and as early as possible, both in the CPA wealth-sharing arrangements as well as preparing the South for economic independence in a potential transition process. After saying that he "went through the arguments" at the MFA, Ellefsen said that "we don't see the ICC decision as preventing us from dealing with the Sudanese government, but we don't need to embrace the guy." The Norwegians were positive about the June 23 CPA Forum in Washington and offered their assistance with future meetings. They cautioned that although Egypt is enthusiastic about getting involved with the CPA, including hosting future forums, they have not always played a constructive role, and the US should maintain control over the agenda. All parties expressed their intention to maintain regular communication and work closely together to achieve our goals in Sudan. OLSIN-WINDECKER