VZCZCXRO5719
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHROV
RUEHTRO
DE RUCNDT #0317/01 1142301
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 242301Z APR 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1754
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA PRIORITY 0394
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 1255
RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA PRIORITY 1035
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0808
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0819
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 0270
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0673
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA PRIORITY 0268
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 USUN NEW YORK 000317
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SU UNSC KPKO
SUBJECT: UNSC/SUDAN: NO CLEAR SUPPORT FOR 3-MONTH UNMIS
MANDATE EXTENSION
REF: SECSTATE 53362
USUN NEW Y 00000317 001.2 OF 003
1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Acting Special Representative of the
Secretary-General (SRSG) Taye Brook-Zerihoun briefed the
SIPDIS
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at April 23
consultations on the status of the UN Mission in the Sudan
(UNMIS) and on implementation of the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement (CPA). Zerihoun stressed as priorities completion
of the CPA security protocol by July 9, establishment of
administration in Abyei, and preparations for 2009 elections.
Zerihoun called the problem of Darfur an integral part of
the problems of Sudan and hoped for a political solution in
Darfur, an end to violence and attacks against humanitarian
workers, and disarmament of the janjaweed. Zerihoun offered
no elucidation on the question of appointment of an UNMIS
SRSG, saying it was an SYG prerogative. Sudanese and Qatari
representatives confirmed that SYG Ban was meeting a
high-level Sudanese delegation in Doha April 23. Ambassador
Sanders called for progress on Darfur peacekeeping as a way
of maintaining CPA integrity and introduced our draft
resolution for extending UNMIS' mandate (reftel). Members by
and large favored the SYG's recommendation for a six-month
mandate extension. The first Experts Meeting on the draft
text will be April 24, with a view to adoption on April 27.
END SUMMARY.
MODEST PROGRESS IN CPA IMPLEMENTATION
-------------------------------------
2. (SBU) Acting UNMIS SRSG Taye Brook-Zerihoun briefed the
UNSC at April 23 consultations on the status of the Mission
and on implementation of the CPA. Zerihoun warned that the
changing roles of key actors in the peace process have
complicated the already difficult process of CPA
implementation, but he noted some progress: establishment of
almost all power-sharing commissions, the functioning of the
National Petroleum Commission and the launching of the new
Sudanese currency under wealth-sharing agreements, and the
modest steps toward economic development in Southern Sudan.
On security issues, Zerihoun said the cease-fire had been
respected in the wake of the November violence in Malakal,
suggesting that the Cease-fire Joint Monitoring Commission
had been instrumental in preventing conflict escalation.
Finally, Zerihoun commended the efforts of UN Special Envoy
of the SYG for the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)-affected
areas Joaquim Chissano in improving prospects for the
resumption of high-level talks with the LRA, adding that LRA
attacks in southern Sudan were down.
BUT HURDLES REMAIN
------------------
4. (SBU) Zerihoun was concerned that full formation of Joint
Integrated Units (JIUs) was still behind the schedule laid
out in the CPA, carrying potential consequences for the "full
and verified redeployment" of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)
and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) by the CPA's
July 9 deadline, since SPLA redeployment would be through
JIUs. Zerihoun warned about the continued existence of Other
Armed Groups (OAGs) in Southern Sudan, despite established
deadlines for their disbandment. OAGs were also facing
Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR)
challenges, he added. Zerihoun said that the North-South
border demarcation was lagging and that there was still no
agreement on Abyei boundaries, despite the commencement of
the work of a technical team on the ground. Zerihoun
reported that the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement (ESPA) was
still intact, despite the perception that it represented more
a deal between the Sudanese Government of National Unity
(GNU) and the Government of the State of Eritrea than it did
between the GNU and the rebel Eastern Front. Zerihoun noted
residual resentment by the Beja Congress in Kassala and Port
Sudan at having been excluded from ESPA negotiations.
Finally, Zerihoun reported that UNMIS was still subject to
GNU restrictions, particularly in Sector VI of its Area of
Operations, impacting on demining activities.
5. (SBU) Zerihoun stressed as priorities completion of the
security protocol by July 9, establishment of Abyei
administration and development of Southern Kordofan and Blue
USUN NEW Y 00000317 002.2 OF 003
Nile States, and preparations for 2009 elections, including
passage of the requisite electoral law, groundwork for the
national census in November, subsequent voter registration
and a re-engagement of political parties with their
constituencies. In a meeting of troop- and
police-contributing countries immediately prior to
consultations, Zerihoun remarked that census preparations
were hampered by lack of refugee and internally displaced
person returns.
DARFUR DRAINING UNMIS
---------------------
6. (SBU) Such returns, according to Zerihoun, were but one
illustration of the effect of the Darfur crisis on UNMIS.
Declaring that peace in Sudan was "indivisible," Zerihoun
hoped for a political solution to the Darfur crisis, an end
to violence and attacks against humanitarian workers, and
disarmament of the janjaweed by the end of the year to
counteract the drain the Darfur conflict was causing on UNMIS
time, effort and resources, particularly the mission support
aspect, which had forced a re-prioritization in Southern
Sudan. Zerihoun also predicted that deployment of the Heavy
Support Package (HSP) would similarly strain the UNMIS budget
but recognized the drain overall as a necessary one. "If
Darfur is not pacified or is not at peace," Zerihoun
explained, "then national elections will be only partial or
will not be possible at all."
7. (SBU) Zerihoun offered no elucidation on the question of
appointment of an UNMIS SRSG, saying only that it was an SYG
prerogative. He called the hybrid operation "the ultimate
objective" of Darfur peacekeeping and told Members to expect
the hybrid to be finalized by the UN and the African Union
(AU) within the next two weeks, at which time the plan would
be presented simultaneously to the UNSC and the AU Peace and
Security Council (PSC), as well as to the GNU for a
"comprehensive briefing." While acknowledging that GNU
consent and AU PSC endorsement were necessary for hybrid
implementation as a practical matter, Zerihoun spoke to the
need for clarity on command and control structures and on
accountability mechanisms.
MEMBERS WANT 6 MONTHS FOR UNMIS
-------------------------------
8. (SBU) In her intervention, Ambassador Sanders called for
progress on Darfur peacekeeping as a way of maintaining CPA
integrity and introduced our draft resolution for extending
UNMIS' mandate (reftel). Members by and large favored the
SYG's recommendation for a six-month mandate extension for
UNMIS' mandate renewal (set to expire April 30). Members,
including France and the UK, told Poloff privately that to do
otherwise, as our draft suggested, would give the impression
that the UNSC's commitment to supporting the fragile CPA was
fading. Members also feared the linking of the expiration of
the AMIS and UNMIS mandates (AMIS on June 30, UNMIS as we
proposed on July 31), which would increase the pressure by
Africans for UN funding of AMIS, regardless of hybrid
progress. Members expressed a general sense that renewing
mandates for shorter periods of time would involve more UN
bureaucratic procedures and complications for
troop-contributing countries. Russian and Chinese delegates
questioned Poloff privately about the proposed three-month
extension. Italy and Belgium have also voiced concerns. The
first Experts Meeting on the draft text will be April 24,
with a view to April 27 adoption.
9. (SBU) A Qatari political officer told Poloff privately
that his delegation could be flexible on the issue of mandate
duration. He asked if we planned to invoke any chapter of
the UN Charter in the text. He and Sudanese Mission
Political Counselor confirmed separately that SYG Ban was
meeting a high-level Sudanese delegation in Doha April 23, a
meeting the Sudanese rep called "constructive." The Sudanese
delegate also told Poloff that the meeting between Eritrean
President Isaias and President Bashir on reconciling Sudanese
rebels had gone well. Chadian President Deby was expected in
Khartoum in the coming week, according to the Sudanese
officer.
USUN NEW Y 00000317 003.2 OF 003
KHALILZAD