(U) Secretary Clinton's July 15, 2009

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 074849 E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2029 TAGS: OVIP CLINTON HILLARY PREL PGOV PHUM MASS CD, SU SUBJECT: (U) Secretary Clinton's July 15, 2009 Conversation with Chad Foreign Minister Moussa Faki Mahamat ¶1. Classified by Bureau Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson. Reason: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶2. (U) July 15, 2009; 3:30 pm; Washington D.C., USA. ¶3. (U) Participants: U.S. -------------- The Secretary AF PDAS Philip Carter PA Spokesman Ian Kelly S Staff Joseph MacManus Jitu Sardar (AF/C Notetaker) Chad -------------- Foreign Minister Faki Chad Ambassador to U.S. Mahamat Bechir Chad Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Youssouf Takane Chad Embassy Economic Attach Nourene Bachir ¶4. (SBU) SUMMARY. Foreign Minister Faki expressed Chad's commitment to supporting peace in Darfur during his July 16 meeting with the Secretary, as well its desire to strengthen its security relationship with the United States. He also emphasized the Government of Chad's (GOC) willingness to negotiate with Chadian rebels, and progress toward implementation of political and economic reforms. The Secretary commended the Foreign Minister for Chad's willingness to be a partner on key issues of mutual interest. She also encouraged improvements on Chad's record on child soldiers, so as to avoid possible sanctions in the future that would derail efforts to enhance cooperation. END SUMMARY. -------------- - CHAD'S ROLE IN DARFUR AND RELATIONS WITH SUDAN -------------- - ¶5. (C) Foreign Minister Faki highlighted the Government of Chad's continued support of the U.S. and Sudan Special Envoy Gration's efforts to achieve peace in Darfur. He referenced President Deby's recent meeting with Justice and Equality Movement Chairman Khalil Ibrahim, in which Deby pressed Ibrahim to accept a cease-fire with Sudan, drop its demand for an unconditional JEM prisoner release by the Government of Sudan (GOS),and commit to the Doha peace process. According to Faki, Ibrahim accepted these points, and called upon the United States to assure implementation of any cease-fire arrangement. Faki emphasized the GOC's desire to see a peaceful resolution to the Darfur conflict, as Chad's own national interest was tied to peace in Darfur. ¶6. (C) The Foreign Minister pointed out the GOC appreciated Special Envoy Gration's efforts to press Khartoum to recall Chadian rebel commanders to Khartoum and pull Sudanese-backed Chadian rebels back from the border. While Khartoum had indeed recalled Chadian rebel commanders to Khartoum, given past GOS violations of agreements between the two countries, Chad had little confidence this recent effort would lead to larger initiatives. Faki asserted the U.S. should play an enhanced role in verifying commitments by Khartoum to disarm the Chadian rebels to ensure Sudan's compliance. If the U.S. could verify and guarantee these actions, the GOC would fully deny any Sudanese rebel movement the opportunity to plan military actions from Chadian territory. The Secretary thanked Chad for its support for the United States' and Special Envoy Gration's efforts in seeking a peaceful solution to the crisis in Darfur, and noted the United States' own skepticism at times of Sudan's motivations. She highlighted the United States would continue to press Sudan on playing a positive role in the region. -------------- DOMESTIC RECONCILIATION AND REFORM -------------- ¶7. (C) Foreign Minister Faki thanked the Secretary for continued U.S. support in condemning Chad rebel activity, and for acknowledging the seriousness of the Chad rebel threat on the country's stability. He indicated in spite of past aggressions by the rebels, the GOC was prepared to negotiate with rebel leaders under any circumstance. In fact, the GOC was already in talks with Chadian rebel leader Ahmat Soubiane to rejoin the GOC, and had already welcomed nearly 1,000 rebels (who had been demobilized and reintegrated into the Chadian national army) since 2007. ¶8. (C) Faki also pointed out progress on political and economic reforms. He stated the GOC and opposition parties were working together to implement the August 13, 2007 political agreement, push forward key electoral reform laws, and stand up the country's National Election Commission (CENI). The Foreign Minister also noted Chad's recent agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to begin a Staff Monitored Program to improve Chad's public finances, and asked the United States to support Chad in its efforts to strengthen relations with the IMF and other International Financial Institutions. To further advance the country's development priorities, Faki cited Chad's interest in seeing a return of USAID and the Peace Corps. The Secretary stated she was encouraged by recent progress on the political and economic front, and said the United States would be supportive of Chad's efforts to enhance its relations with the IMF and other institutions. -------------- MILITARY COOPERATION AND TIP -------------- ¶9. (C) Faki underscored Chad's interest in strengthening its strategic relationship with the United States, citing Chad's geo-strategic importance in the Sahel, and previous cooperation in the 1980s against Libya and mutual efforts to combat terrorism. He noted his hope that his meetings with the Department of Defense would allow both sides to explore these issues further. The Secretary commended Faki for reaching out to the Department of Defense, but pointed out that any efforts at enhancing security cooperation would be derailed by the Child Soldiers Act and Chad's current Tier III Trafficking in Persons ranking, which would potentially make Chad ineligible for any security assistance. She expressed hope the GOC would make progress in the mandated 45-day timeframe to avoid being downgraded or subject to sanctions. Faki noted Chad's interest in working with the United States to improve the country's track record, and hoped meetings with the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons would underscore this point. CLINTON