VZCZCXRO4331
OO RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHTC #0828 1231107
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 031107Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9042
INFO RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0092
RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS THE HAGUE 000828
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM EAID SU NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/SUDAN: SUPPORTING THE TDRA
REF: STATE 58734
(SBU) Poloff shared reftel points with Dutch MFA's Horn of Africa
Division Head, Huub Buise, May 2. Buise, who is traveling to Sudan
May 3 with Dutch Development Minister Koenders, gave the following
initial, written response.
Begin text: We share your concern that a weak TDRA means a threat
for the DPA. Minawi as the only signatory has to be able to play a
role as senior presidential advisor and as head of the TDRA. It
would be encouraging if the GoS were enabling Minawi to play this
role and providing him with the necessary means (as was promised).
So far this is not happening, and the international community should
point out the risks of weakening Minawi. On the other hand, I
wonder whether assisting Minawi and the TDRA with external funds and
technical advisors will not lead to a further gap with the
non-signatories. The DPA is contested by some groups and if some
elements of the DPA, especially those related to the power sharing
arrangements, are further implemented, the willingness of those
groups to accept the DPA (with annexes) might even further
decrease.
However, your points are interesting, and it is worthwhile to
elaborate on how to implement them and strengthen the DPA without
losing the rest of stakeholders. We will come back to you later on
this issue. End text.
Arnall