Cablegate: Darfur: Non-Signatory Conference Best Way Forward

VZCZCXRO3978
RR RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #2479/01 2831013
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101013Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4907
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 002479

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL UN SU
SUBJECT: Darfur: Non-Signatory Conference Best Way Forward

This is an action request, please see paragraph 6.

1. SUMMARY: Darfur Partners Group met on October 4, 2006, at
British Ambassador's residence. The meeting was hosted by the UK
Ambassador and included Charge D'Affairs Cameron Hume, the French
Ambassador and representatives from the Netherlands, Norway,
Germany, the EU, and the UN. After a review of the security
situation in Darfur and the recent visit by the President of the
European Union (EU), the "Gang of Four/Five" presented a plan to
hold a Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) non-signatories conference as
soon as possible. In addition to requesting financial support, the
Gang outlined several details that must be resolved before a
conference can be held. End Summary.

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North and South Largely Stable, No Change on UN Troops
--------------------------------------------- ---------

2. Following a short discussion of the action points from the
Darfur Partners Group Meeting of September 20, 2006, the British
Security Officer provided a brief synopsis of the current security
situation on the ground. He said that despite heavy reinforcements
of the GoS military that have been observed in El Fashir, including
ground troops, attack helicopters and Antonovs, the overall security
situation in the north has remained relatively stable.
Notwithstanding the attack in Al-Guraydah (South Darfur) against
Minni Minawi's SLM/A forces by the SLM/A Free Will Movement, the
overall security situation in the south was also reported to be
relatively stable. The military capability of the SLM/A Free Will
Movement was questioned and it was thought that without GoS support,
its capability was limited.

3. The meeting between the President of the E.U., Jose Barosso, and
President Bashir was also briefly mentioned. No change in the GoS
stance with respect to U.N. peacekeepers was envisaged. The U.N.
was also waiting a response from the GoS as to their consideration
and acceptance of the proposed U.N. light support package with
regards to the A.U.

4. The "Gang of Four/Five" (US, UK, Netherlands, EU, and Norway)
briefed the meeting on the current status of its non-signatories
project. They explained that momentum has been building, even
without the international community's active support, to hold a DPA
non-signatories conference within the next several weeks. The
consensus was that facilitating such a conference, albeit not ideal,
was better than doing nothing. The Gang believes that international
support is imperative if the conference is to get off the ground. A
notional budget of $200,000 was submitted for consideration. Before
a conference can be held though, several questions/hurdles have to
be answered/overcome. They are as follows:

-- Participation: Should the conference be restricted to military
commanders only or should it be all inclusive to include politicos,
IDPs and intellectuals/academics?

-- Venue: Should it be held in Darfur to facilitate military
commanders' participation, or in Nairobi or Kampala to facilitate
non-resident Darfurian's participation?

-- Facilitator: Three NGOs (i.e., Justice Africa, SUDO and DISA)
have met with the Gang with their proposals to host the conference.
As each NGO has its own agenda, care must be taken. The consensus
was to contract with two of the NGOs, providing oversight
throughout.

-- GoS: The government does not support the conference and is
currently inviting some military commanders to Libya to put pressure
on them to sign the DPA.

-- UN: Although the UN had been invited to be a member of the Gang,
no participation on their part has been forthcoming. UNSR Pronk is
now actively promoting a conference in parallel to the Gang's, which
raised concern for some in the Partners' Group.

-- AU: To ensure a successful conference, especially if held in
Darfur, the A.U. must be brought on board. Their assets may be
needed to provide transportation to the conference.

-- Eritrea: Eritrean interference should not be underestimated and
they, like the UN, may be promoting a conference of their own.

-- Funding: The Partners Group thought that the preliminary cost
estimate of $200,000 was possible. Respective governments will be
canvassed for sources of funding.

5. Lastly, the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID)
representative briefed the Darfur Partners Group as to a recent
visit to the Omdurman party offices of SLM/Minawi. Support for
party capacity building and office equipment would be sought.

6. ACTION REQUEST: CDA Hume requests that funds in the amount of
$50,000 be made available as the USG's contribution to the DPA
Non-Signatory Conference. To be an active player in the process,

KHARTOUM 00002479 002 OF 002

financial support must be forthcoming as soon as possible.

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