VZCZCXRO5496
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHEG #7040/01 3381436
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 041436Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2791
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 1081
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 007040 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR WATERS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MARR UNSC ARABL EG SU
SUBJECT: DARFUR:  EGYPT'S MFA OPTIMISTIC AFTER LATEST ROUND 
OF AFRICAN UNION TALKS, SEEKS USG VIEWS 
 
Classified by Minister Counselor for Economic and Political 
Affairs William R. Stewart for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (U) This is an action request.  Please see paragraph 
seven. 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶2.  (C) Egyptian MFA contacts expressed surprise at how 
"positive" the November 30 Darfur talks in Abuja had been, 
among members of the African Union's (AU) Peace and Security 
Commission (PSC).  The MFA's Assistant Minister for African 
Affairs, Massoum Marzouk, told poloff he believed the 
Government of Sudan conceded on several key issues remaining 
from the November 16 Addis Ababa meeting hosted by the UN and 
AU.  Marzouk sought USG reactions to the Abuja talks, and 
reported "conflicting reports" on USG Darfur policy. 
Marzouk, and another senior MFA official, expressed concern 
that Washington was overly strident on UNSCR 1706 
implementation, despite what was believed to have been 
agreement from the U.S. on a "third way" compromise on a 
hybrid UN/AU force for Darfur.  They expressed concern that 
Washington's public comments could increase Khartoum's 
obstinacy and prolong resolution of the conflict.  On Cairo's 
reported efforts to bring Darfur nonsignatories to the peace 
table and adhere to the Darfur Peace Agreement, MFA contacts 
believed little progress was being made with Khalil Ibrahim 
and other rebels.  End summary. 
 
-------------------------- 
Abuja PSC Talks Productive 
-------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) During a December 4 meeting, MFA Assistant Minister 
for African Affairs Ambassador Marzoum Marzouk told poloff 
that Egypt was pleased with the outcome of the latest PSC 
ministerial meeting held in Abuja on November 30.  His 
comments were echoed by MFA Cabinet Staff Member Ahmed Aboul 
Zeid, with whom poloff met separately on December 4. 
Responding to poloff's question about a recent unhelpful 
letter from Sudanese President Bashir to UN SYG Annan with 
the GOS response to the November 16 Addis meeting 
"conclusions document," Marzouk said the letter was no longer 
relevant, as the latest Abuja PSC talks had rendered it 
obsolete.  South African President Mbeki, UN Deputy Secretary 
General Guehenno and others pressed Bashir hard in Abuja to 
respond more favorably on UN/AU proposals spelled out in 
Addis on November 16.  The reaction from the Sudanese 
delegation, Marzouk said, was positive, and was clarified in 
a non-paper handed out to PSC members (Marzouk said he gave 
the document to his minister and did not have a copy). 
 
------------------------------------- 
GOS Accepts Principle of Hybrid Force 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Marzouk emphasized that the Sudanese accepted "the 
principle of a hybrid force" with some qualifications, such 
as limiting the total force size to 10,000 troops. 
Privately, however, the Sudanese communicated acceptance of 
the UNSCR 1706 number of 17,000 troops - provided the troops 
were Africans, he added.  The GOS delegation also said in 
Abuja they would accept non-AU forces to assist in technical 
roles such as communications and command and control. 
Furthermore, the GOS accepts UN funding for augmentation of 
AU troops with UN forces -- up to 17,000, along with 3,000 
police.  Bashir also did not object to the UN and AU 
selecting a force commander, as long as Bashir was consulted 
in the process.   Marzouk shared his "personal view" that the 
agreement reached in Abuja did not give Bashir a veto on this 
point.  On selecting a Special Representative to the UN 
Secretary General (SRSG), the Sudanese were reportedly 
 
SIPDIS 
adamant to preserve their right to consult further (Note: 
reference is to paragraph 28 in the Addis November 16 
Conclusions final-final document.  End note).  Marzouk stated 
his view that the GOS would accept an appointment of an SRSG 
by the UN Secretary General. 
 
----------------- 
Washington Views? 
----------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Further characterizing the Abuja PSC talks, Marzouk 
stated his surprise at how "positive" the talks had been, 
especially given numerous bleak predictions beforehand from 
the EU Sudan envoy and others.  Nevertheless, he added, 
 
CAIRO 00007040  002 OF 002 
 
 
recent reports from Washington were "very discouraging" since 
they suggested the USG is pressing for full implementation of 
UNSCR 1706, despite the approach agreed upon in Addis on 
November 16.  Asked if London had reacted any differently, 
Marzouk said the British were talking of a "Chapter VIII" 
approach, as envisioned in Addis.  (Note:  UK Poloff 
confirmed December 4 that the Egyptians briefed the Foreign 
Office in London on the Abuja talks, and that London was 
sanguine on recent developments.  End note).  MFA Cabinet 
staffer Ahmed Aboul Zeid separately confirmed Egyptian 
concerns over USG policy deliberations, and asked for 
clarification of U.S. views.  Poloff confirmed that Egyptian 
Ambassador in Washington Nabil Fahmy intended to meet APNSA 
Hadley this week in Washington, and would likely raise the 
issue with him. 
 
---------------------- 
Darfur Non-Signatories 
---------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) Asked about Egypt's reported efforts to host Khalil 
Ibrahim and other Darfur non-DPA signatories to pressure them 
into a ceasefire, Aboul Zeid had no information on the topic, 
pointing poloff to Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Soliman's 
office for additional information.  Upon further questioning, 
he said it was his understanding that little progress had 
been made with the Darfur non-signatories, but that the AU 
and UN were expected to press this issue in the coming weeks. 
 
¶7.  (U) Action request:  Post requests guidance on sharing 
with the GOE our views on the recent Abuja talks, and next 
steps with respect to a peacekeeping force in Darfur. 
RICCIARDONE