VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHKH #1371 3421553
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 081553Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4844
UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001371
SIPDIS
NSC FOR MGAVIN, LELLIS
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM SU
SUBJECT: ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION COMMITTEE PLENARY
RESCHEDULED
1. In the absence of Sudan People's Liberation Movement
(SPLM) representatives, the 50th plenary meeting of the
Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC) scheduled for
December 8 was rescheduled to Sunday, December 13 at 10:00
AM. For representatives of AEC member countries assembled in
anticipation of the December 8 plenary, Commission Chairman
Sir Derek Plumbly reviewed recent developments and
administrative matters. Plumbly noted that the impending
crisis discussed at the November AEC plenary had transformed
in the intervening month into a real crisis. Specifically,
the impasse over legislation before the National Assembly had
continued, and had escalated into the demonstrations held the
day before. Plumbly said he planned to address the press
later that day,in his personal capacity, to emphasize the
need for the parties to work together to pass the legislation
before the close of the current parliamentary session, and to
assure implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement
(CPA) through elections conducted in a free, fair and
peaceful manner.
2. Plumbly pointed out several recent, positive
developments. He met, at the invitation of former South
African President Thabo Mbeki, with the members of the
African Union High-Level Panel on Darfur to discuss the
panel's new mandate with respect to the CPA. Plumbly said he
was encouraged both by the mastery of detail demonstrated by
panel members during their conversation and by their
determination to focus on CPA implementation. While in
attendance at a Juba forum on post 2011 issues, Plumbly said
participants both understood and were committed to the need
to begin now to engage on post referendum issues. Finally,
Plumbly called the registration of 3.4 million voters a
positive development, and reminded attendees that the AEC
will meet with members of the National Elections Commission
on December 15 to review the registration process.
3. Plumbly also noted that the Security Affairs Working Group
had traveled to Equatoria, Blue Nile and Jonglei to
investigate security in those areas, and said that the AEC
staff would issue an expanded annual report, to mark the
fifth anniversary of the signing of the CPA, in January 2010.
WHITEHEAD