VZCZCXRO1795
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #2831 3451530
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 111530Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5543
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002831
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KPKO UN SU
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT BASHIR ACCUSES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY OF
SUPPORTING DARFUR REBELS AT ACP SUMMIT
1. Sudanese President Omer Hasan Ahmed al-Bashir used the occasion
of the two-day African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) Summit hosted
in Khartoum December 7-8 to criticize the UN and accuse the
international community of supporting Darfur rebels. In both his
opening and closing remarks, Bashir criticized the "unjust and
imbalanced" system of the UN, specifically singling out the Security
Council for needing change. He accused unnamed members of the
international community for supporting the National Redemption Front
(NRF), including shipping arms and turning a blind eye to ceasefire
violations committed by it.
2. In his opening speech to the ACP, Bashir argued that principles
of good governance demanded of national governments should also be
practiced at the international level by the UN, but that injustice
and imbalance characterize both the UN and international financial
institutions. The UN system, he said, requires "radical reforms."
"The current formation of the Security Council, the modes of its
work and manner of its decision-making process do not respond to the
desired needs, and do not provide the aspired opportunity of the
member states in (the ACP) to express their view points regarding
vital and crucial issues effecting (them all)."
3. Bashir's most forceful words were saved for his closing remarks.
He blamed all of the violence since the signing of the Darfur Peace
Agreement (DPA) on the NRF, which he said had been able to take
control of all the territory formerly under the control of the
SLA/Minawi. He blamed this fighting, instigated by the NRF, for
causing the recent displacement of Darfurians from their homes and
villages. The NRF had dared to perpetrate such an aggressive
offensive because it believed the international community would turn
a blind eye on its actions. Indeed, Bashir claimed the NRF has been
receiving large quantities of arms, military equipment, and vehicles
from across the border with Chad. Nevertheless, Bashir ended on an
optimistic note, spuriously claiming reports coming from AMIS forces
in Darfur indicate an improving security situation.
HUME