SUDAN SANCTIONS COMMITTEE MEETS UNAMID HEAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000447 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2019 TAGS: PREL UNSC ETTC SU PGOV SUBJECT: SUDAN SANCTIONS COMMITTEE MEETS UNAMID HEAD Classified By: Amb. Rosemary DiCarlo for reasons 1.4(B) AND (D). ¶1. SUMMARY: Roldophe Adada, Joint AU/UN Special Representative for Darfur, told the Sudan Sanctions Committee that UNAMID considers the Committee's work to be important in light of the widespread availability of arms in Darfur. He said UNAMID would offer full support to visits by the Sudan Panel of Experts (POE),which is charged with monitoring sanctions implementation. When the Committee chair asked about UNAMID's progress monitoring illicit arms, Adada claimed that UNAMID had insufficient resources to carry out all aspects of its mandate. The chair reported that the POE, which had previously been unable to travel to Sudan due to security problems and visa delays, will visit Darfur in the coming days. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Roldophe Adada, Joint AU/UN Special Representative for Darfur, told the Sudan Sanctions Committee on April 28 that the widespread availability of weapons was linked to all of the problems in Darfur and that UNAMID therefore considers the Committee's role in enforcing UN-imposed arms embargo to be "important and indispensable." He added that UNAMID will grant priority to the visits of the Sudan Panel of Experts (POE),a UN-mandated team charged with monitoring the sanctions measures imposed on Sudan. He noted, however, that in the wake of the International Criminal Court indictment of the Sudanese president, security restrictions had prevented the POE from traveling to Sudan. ¶3. (C) Austrian Perm Rep Thomas Mayr-Harting, chair of the Committee, thanked Adada for UNAMID's support and his personal engagement with the Committee. Noting that UNAMID's mandate (UNSCR 1769) included a responsibility to "monitor whether any arms or related material are present in Darfur in violation of the Agreements and the measures imposed by paragraphs 7 and 8 of resolution 1556 (2004)," the chair asked Adada what UNAMID was doing to implement this task. He asked Adada specifically whether UNAMID had followed through on a previous POE recommendation that UNAMID establish a dedicated arms embargo monitoring cell. Adada claimed in response that UNAMID lacked the personnel, resources and mobility to address some elements of its mandate. The chair said he would continue to be in touch with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations to intensify cooperation between the Committee and UNAMID. ¶4. (C) USUN Sanctions Unit chief thanked Adada for meeting with the Committee, adding that targeted sanctions measures have the potential to facilitate reconciliation, reduce the flow of arms to Darfur and isolate spoilers to the peace process. He emphasized that these measures must be integrated tightly and carefully with a broader strategy for conflict resolution and therefore the Committee stood ready to support Adada's efforts. The UK delegate echoed these themes and asked whether UNAMID could share with the Committee information about arms and related material UNAMID encounters in the course of its regular activities. Adada agreed to share such information. The Libyan delegate questioned whether receiving this information would marginalize the POE, whose principal task was to monitor arms. The chair said he believed the Committee should be open to receiving information from multiple sources. POE UPDATE -------------- ¶5. (C) The chair updated the Committee on the recent obstacles that the POE had faced in carrying its mandate. He noted that the UN had previously refused to grant the POE country clearance due to the precarious security situation. While waiting for clearance, the POE conducted research in Chad, where MINURCAT provided significant logistical support. When the POE finally received that clearance in early April, the POE then encountered difficulties securing the visas from the Sudanese government. The chair raised the issue of visas with the Sudanese Perm Rep, who apparently intervened with Khartoum to allow the visas to be issued. Sudan, however, refuses to grant a visa to the Panel's arms expert, a Canadian national. The POE -- minus the arms expert -- intends to visit Sudan in the coming days and will send an interim progress report to the Committee after this trip. ¶6. (C) The chair reported that the Sudanese Perm Rep continues to decline a standing invitation to meet with the Committee in person. The Perm Rep told the chair, however, USUN NEW Y 00000447 002 OF 002 that he would be willing to answer Committee questions posed in writing. Rice