AMBASSADOR RICE PRESSES BURKINA FASO PRESIDENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000280 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SU AF SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RICE PRESSES BURKINA FASO PRESIDENT COMPAORE TO SPEAK WITH BASHIR REF: USUN NEW YORK 00269 Classified By: Ambassador Susan E. Rice for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: On March 17, Ambassador Rice spoke by phone with Burkina Faso President Compaore to urge him to speak with Sudanese President Bashir concerning the recent expulsion of 13 NGOs from Darfur. Rice also discussed seeking a Security Council resolution in the event Bashir did not reverse his decision and said that the United States would like to count on Burkina Faso's support as a Council member for such a resolution. Compaore agreed to speak to Bashir but indicated he'd prefer to discuss Burkina Faso's position on a potential Security Council resolution later, after providing Bashir an opportunity to reverse his decision. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Ambassador Rice called President Compaore to discuss the Government of Sudan's expulsion of NGOs and to obtain Compaore's assistance with efforts to persuade Bashir to reverse this decision. Rice noted that the United States and Burkina Faso differ in their positions on the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant against Bashir, but must be united in opposition to Bashir's expulsion of NGOs, which could result in the deaths of 1.5 million Darfuris. Rice asked Compaore to speak with Bashir and urge reversal of the NGO expulsions. Compaore indicated that he shared the U.S. concern about the expulsions. Compaore agreed to speak to Bashir. ¶3. (C) Ambassador Rice also discussed the possibility of seeking a Security Council resolution if Bashir did not reverse his decision. She asked whether Burkina Faso would join the United States in drafting a resolution that would help obtain reversal of the expulsions. Compaore said he would prefer to see how Bashir would react to diplomatic pressures for reversal of his decision and would be willing to talk about a resolution at a later time. Rice pressed Compaore, noting that with each day that NGOs remain expelled from Darfur, more lives are at risk. Rice