Cablegate: Unsc Welcomes Arusha Progress and Looks Forward To

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PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHROV
RUEHTRO
DE RUCNDT #0656/01 2212319
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 092319Z AUG 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2428
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 1432
RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA PRIORITY 1193
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0869
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY 0262
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 0850
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0643
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA PRIORITY 0320
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000656

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREF PREL SU UNSC KPKO
SUBJECT: UNSC WELCOMES ARUSHA PROGRESS AND LOOKS FORWARD TO
COMING NEGOTIATIONS

USUN NEW Y 00000656 001.2 OF 002

1. (SBU) SUMMARY. At August 9 United Nations Security Council
consultations, Department of Peacekeeping Operations
Assistant-Secretary-General Hedi Annabi heralded the positive
atmosphere at August 3-6 Arusha consultations, which
represented the first meeting of all key leaders in the
Darfur conflict since the signing of the Darfur Peace
Agreement. Annabi had no updates on the exact timing or
venue of the planned final negotiations between the Darfur
rebels and the Sudanese Government of National Unity, adding
that more time was need for the rebels to "put flesh on the
bones" of their common platform paper. In response to
Members' expressions of regret that Sudan Liberation Movement
faction leader Abdelwahid al-Nur had been absent from Arusha,
Annabi said his moment of truth would come when invitations
to final negotiations were issued. Annabi reported that UN
Special Envoy Eliasson was currently in Darfur to discuss
with tribal leaders, women's groups, refugees, IDPs and other
civil society members ways to bring them into the political
process, per the rebel platform. Members agreed to a press
statement issued by the Congolese Presidency after
consultations welcoming UN and African Union efforts, calling
for expedited negotiations and urging respect for the
cease-fire; text in paragraph 7. END SUMMARY.

ANNABI DESCRIBED "ENABLING ENVIRONMENT" IN ARUSHA
--------------------------------------------- ----
2. (SBU) At August 9 United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
consultations, Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO)
Assistant-Secretary-General (A/SYG) Hedi Annabi heralded the
positive atmosphere at August 3-6 Ngurdoto, Arusha
consultations, which represented the first meeting of all key
leaders in the Darfur conflict since the signing of the
Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). Annabi reported that the rebel
groups JEM, SFDA, NMRD, SLM-Hamis and SLM-Unity were
represented, but that SLM faction leader Abdelwahid al-Nur
was absent. Annabi said that field commanders also attended,
as did representatives of regional players Chad, Egypt,
Eritrea and Libya, whose participation he called constructive.

3. (SBU) A/SYG Annabi outlined the five main areas discussed
in Arusha: first, a common rebel negotiating platform;
second, criteria for and level of participation in
forthcoming negotiations; third, agenda and venue for
forthcoming negotiations; fourth, participation of tribal
leaders, women's groups, refugees, IDPs and civil society in
forthcoming negotiations; and fifth, security and
humanitarian matters. Annabi said a workshop would precede
final negotiations, which would address wealth- and
power-sharing issues, security arrangements, land issues and
humanitarian matters, based on agreements reached in Tripoli
in July and under UNSCR 1769. Annabi noted that the rebel
platform paper was considered confidential for the time being
but enumerated its key provisions: readiness to respect UN-AU
leadership in the political process, readiness to respect the
cease-fire as long as all other parties to the Darfur
conflict did the same, willingness to keep the platform open
to absentees, commitment to unhindered humanitarian access,
acceptance of UNSCR 1769 (2007) and its implementation, and
willingness to address the concerns of all negotiating
parties through the appropriate mechanisms (Annabi noted the
Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation could be used for
this purpose).

4. (SBU) A/SYG Annabi attributed international community
support, especially that of the Government of Tanzania, for
the success in Arusha. He urged the UNSC to remain engaged,
particularly with the AU, in the run-up to final negotiations
between the rebels and the Sudanese Government of National
Unity (GNU). Annabi noted that while the GNU had welcomed
the Arusha conclusions, it had reiterated its objections to a
"wholesale re-negotiation" of the DPA. Annabi stressed that
all parties must adopt an attitude of "mutual accommodation
and compromise" for final negotiations, adding that
Abdelwahid's moment of truth would come when the final
invitations were eventually issued. Annabi said that
Eliasson would be on the ground in Darfur to consult with
relevant stakeholders in all three Darfur states and that AU
Envoy Salim would pick up in Khartoum during the week of
August 13.

USUN NEW Y 00000656 002.2 OF 002

MEMBERS COMMEND ENVOYS, CASTIGATE ABDELWAHID
--------------------------------------------
5. (SBU) Members were unanimous in their congratulations to
the UN and AU Envoys for their successful efforts in Arusha.
Many Members (including South Africa) also paid tribute to
the Darfur rebel movements for coming forward out of respect
for the consultative process in Arusha. Members were
impatient for next steps, stressing that the date for final
negotiations not slip beyond the two- to three-month window
elaborated by the rebels. Khartoum's allies (including
Indonesia, Qatar and Russia) spoke in its defense, stressing
that its "encouraging" response to Arusha not be left
unnoticed and that the DPA not be re-opened in negotiations
to come.

6. (SBU) Most Members expressed regret that Abdelwahid was
absent from Arusha talks and called on those with appropriate
influence to encourage him to join the political process.
Ghanaian PermRep Christian expressed hope that SLA
humanitarian coordinator Suleiman Jamous could participate in
final negotiations and called on the GNU to bring him on
board. Russian PermRep Churkin and the Qatari delegate
suggested in their interventions that Abdelwahid's failure to
participate in Arusha talks contravened UNSCR 1769 and AU-UN
Roadmap obligations, with Churkin asking about measures to be
taken in response. Members also called for respect for the
cease-fire, with the Indonesian PermRep citing the August 8
incident in Adila as a violation. In response to Ambassador
Sanders' request for further clarification on the Adila
incident, A/SYG Annabi reiterated media reports that Darfur
rebels claimed to have shot down a Sudanese MiG-29 about 2km
south of Adila in the eastern corner of South Darfur, a town
where during the week of July 30 the GNU had accused JEM
rebels of an attack. Annabi noted speculation that the GNU
acted now in retribution for the JEM attack but said so far
the GNU had made no official comment.

7. (SBU) At UK suggestion (to stave off an original South
African request for a Presidential Statement), Members agreed
to a press statement to be delivered after consultations by
the Congolese Presidency. The text of the statement was
issued as Security Council document SC/9094 and read as
follows: "The members of the Security Council welcome the
substantial progress made by the Special Envoys (Jan Eliasson
for the United Nations and Salim Ahmed Salim for the African
Union) at Arusha on Darfur. That progress builds on the
momentum generated by the meeting held in Tripoli on 13 July
2007 and the adoption of Security Council resolution 1769
(2007). The Council continues to stress the importance of
pursuing the political and peacekeeping tracks
simultaneously. The members of the Security Council now call
on all parties to move from pre-negotiations to negotiations
as soon as possible and to demonstrate their commitment to
the political process through concrete actions, in particular
a cessation of hostilities. The members also call on all key
movement leaders to enter and participate in the AU-UN
process."
KHALILZAD

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