INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Darfur - High-Level Committee Meeting On The

Published: Sun 30 Sep 2007 12:05 PM
VZCZCXRO2576
PP RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1523/01 2731205
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 301205Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8659
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001523
SIPDIS
AIDAC
SIPDIS
STATE FOR AF/SPG, PRM, AND ALSO PASS USAID/W
USAID FOR DCHA SUDAN TEAM, AFR/SP
NAIROBI FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA, USAID/REDSO, AND FAS
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
NAIROBI FOR SFO
NSC FOR PMARCHAM, MMAGAN, AND TSHORTLEY
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
USUN FOR TMALY
BRUSSELS FOR PBROWN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PREF PGOV PHUM SOCI UN SU
SUBJECT: DARFUR - HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE MEETING ON THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT COMMUNIQUE
KHARTOUM 00001523 001.2 OF 002
1. Summary: On September 24, the high-level committee that
oversees the implementation of the Joint Communique on the
facilitation of humanitarian activities in Darfur met in Khartoum.
In the capacity of donor observer, U.S. Charge d'Affaires Alberto M.
Fernandez, accompanied by a USAID representative, attended the
meeting.
2. The Tripartite Joint Technical Committee (TJTC) briefed the
committee on the September 23 launch of the Non-governmental
Organization (NGO) General Directory of Procedures (GDP) and the
Darfur Fast Track Annex. The committee noted that Sudanese
government representatives had met with the CARE regional
coordinator regarding the expulsion of CARE Sudan Country Director
Paul Barker and that a more comprehensive summary of the issue would
be provide at the next meeting. In addition, participants requested
that the committee review current U.N. World Food Program (WFP)
logistical constraints resulting from Darfur military escort
requirements and an extension for the Moratorium on Restrictions
which will expire in January 2008.
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BACKGROUND
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3. On September 24, the high-level committee that oversees the
implementation of the Joint Communique on the facilitation of
humanitarian activities in Darfur met in Khartoum. The Joint
Communique signed in March 2007 by the GNU and the UN is intended to
improve the efficiency and processing of bureaucratic procedures
that hinder NGO operations in Darfur, including visa, travel permit,
and custom clearances. The meeting was co-chaired by the Government
of National Unity (GNU) Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the UN
Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator/Deputy Special Representative
of the Secretary General. Attendants included representatives from
the GNU Humanitarian Affairs Commission (HAC) and Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, the United States, the Democratic Republic of
Congo, the Arab and African Groups, international and national NGOs,
and the UN. U.S. Charge d'Affaires Alberto M. Fernandez and USAID
staff attended the meeting in the role of the donor observer.
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LAUNCH OF THE PROCEDURES MANUAL
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4. The TJTC briefed the high-level committee on the September 23
launch of the GDP and Darfur Fast Track Annex. Intended to ensure
transparency and facilitate the timely navigation of bureaucratic
procedures by NGOs operating in Darfur and throughout Sudan, the GDP
provides NGOs with clear guidance on administrative procedures. The
GDP has been disseminated electronically and will be posted on the
HAC and U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
(OCHA) websites. The TJTC reported that the Arabic translation of
the GDP is nearly finalized and that GDP training for NGOs at thg
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