VZCZCXRO8852
OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBC RUEHBZ RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHDU RUEHFL
RUEHGI RUEHIK RUEHJO RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHMA RUEHMR
RUEHPA RUEHPOD RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHTRO RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUCNDT #0212/01 0671601
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 071601Z MAR 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3866
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 000212
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SU MOPS
SUBJECT: SYG BAN AND U/SYG GUEHENNO DISCUSS SUDAN WITH SE
WILLIAMSON
1. (SBU) Summary: Special Envoy Williamson met with
Secretary-General Ban and U/SYG Guehenno at the United
SIPDIS
Nations on March 5. SE Williamson underscored President
Bush's commitment to help to alleviate the suffering in
Sudan, and emphasized the importance of more rapid UNAMID
deployment. He also previewed the Friends of UNAMID Group
and offered to lead support efforts in Sudan. SYG Ban said
that Sudan remained a top priority and called for
acceleration of the political process. Ban pledged UN
cooperation and expressed the need for international, and
especially U.S. support. U/SYG Guehenno raised concerns
about the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and UNAMID
deployment. End Summary.
2. (SBU) During March 5 meetings with SYG Ban and U/SYG
Guehenno, SE Williamson conveyed POTUS frustration with the
situation in Sudan. He commented that the "genocide in slow
motion" is reprehensible and incomprehensible and repeated
the importance of boots on the ground as soon as possible.
SE Williamson also expressed concern over UNAMID's inability
to absorb additional troops, including an additional influx
of 3,600 peacekeepers by June 1. He told SYG Ban that the UN
was well situated to play a major role in Sudan and that it
was crucial for the USG and the UN to work together closely.
SE Williamson reminded SYG Ban of the recent USG announcement
of USD 100 million to train and equip African peacekeeping
forces. He also commented that the NGO community is playing
an "enormous role" in Sudan with 1,000 international and
14,000 local humanitarian workers. While in Sudan last week,
SE Williamson heard from NGO representatives who said that
UNAMID's presence and readiness to engage in targeted patrols
have helped to decrease the level of violence in the country.
3. (SBU) SYG Ban said that Sudan remains one of his top
priorities. He remarked that the UN and the USG share
objectives and commitment to Sudan, noting his recent
meetings with both President Bush and Secretary Rice. Ban
said that it is essential to accelerate the pace of deploying
the hybrid mission as well as stepping up the political
process. According to Ban, there was a strategic decision at
the top-levels of the Sudanese government to integrate Sudan
as a member of the international community. He noted that if
the Sudanese were able to "stick to their commitment," they
would expect incentives from the United States including the
lifting of sanctions, he said, which he raised with both
President Bush and Secretary Rice.
4. (SBU) SYG Ban said there is an urgent need for helicopters
and the transfer of heavy equipment in Sudan. He expressed
frustration with his lack of success in persuading South
Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Brazil, India, China, or European
countries to provide helicopters. We should be fully
prepared to provide our own support, he said, commenting that
"we could easily be blamed by both the international
community and the Sudanese for lack of action." He suggested
that the USG should "take this issue seriously" and talk to
developed nations, who should be responsible for supplying
helicopters and heavy equipment. We need international
support, he said, but specifically USG support and leadership.
5. (SBU) Williamson recognized the need for U.S. leadership
and added that the USG will coordinate with partner countries
to help address problems in UNAMID deployment. He said that
it is important for the United States and the UN to work
creatively together. SE Williamson told Ban that the United
States and Canada would launch on March 6 a "Friends of
UNAMID" group of nine partner countries to help ensure the
rapid deployment of UNAMID. The March 6 meeting, to be held
at the U.S. Mission to the UN, will include senior
representatives from capitals as well as Permanent
Representatives. Following this meeting, Friends of UNAMID
will meet at the working level on a weekly basis. These
discussions will focus on benchmarks for UNAMID deployment.
On helicopters, SE Williamson added that during his recent
trip, the Egyptians offered to provide helicopter assistance.
He remarked that UNAMID should address its inability to
absorb additional troops. SE Williamson urged SYG Ban, and
Ban agreed, to make a public statement welcoming the Group of
Friends and noting the USD 100 million for the development of
troops in Africa.
6. (SBU) In a separate meeting, U/SYG Guehenno said that he
was very concerned about the JEM, commenting that this was a
"particularly bad time" in Sudan. He also remarked that most
battalions on the ground were under-equipped and demoralized.
He noted that better-equipped battalions are gradually
USUN NEW Y 00000212 002 OF 002
replacing weaker battalions, and that the UN is making the
best out of a bad hand. On the Egyptian deployment, Guehenno
said that the Egyptians would "come strong" but were
unwilling to break into battalions. SE Williamson agreed
that the situation was difficult, adding that the real
victims were the 75,000 displaced people. He told Guehenno
that it was crucial to get boots on the ground and assured
him that the USG and the UN would work together
constructively to establish peace and stability in Sudan.
7. (SBU) This cable has been cleared by SE Williamson.
KHALILZAD