VZCZCXRO6665
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #0363/01 0451511
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 141511Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1445
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000363 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PASS AF/FO, AF/RSA, AF/SPG, AND NEA/ELA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL EG US AU SU
SUBJECT: A/S FRAZER MEETING WITH EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER 
AHMED ABOUL GHEIT 
 
 
Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reasons:  Section 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  A/S Frazer and Egyptian Foreign Minister 
Ahmed Aboul Gheit met in Khartoum outside the AU Summit on 
January 24.  Aboul Gheit urged U.S.-Egyptian cooperation in 
Africa; he described the Nile River and countries adjacent to 
the Arab world as Egypt's priorities in Africa.  He said the 
situation in Somalia is not ripe for resolution, although 
Egypt is supporting a unification conference.  Darfur's 
conflict stemmed from a lack of understanding about resource 
constraints, being ignored by the government, and the effects 
of "outside powers."  The U.S., he said, shuld support water 
management projects in Darfur and counter interference by 
neighboring states.  He noted the Sudanese foreign Minister's 
interest in working with the U.S. to resolve the Darfur 
conflict.  Aboul Gheit said Hassan al-Turabi may have 
connections to Darfur rebel groups, but that the Sudanese 
government did not wish to deal with him.  He described Libya 
as seeking to play a role in the Darfur situation to gain 
influence; he sees Eritrea as trying to prevent Sudan and 
Ethiopia from strengthening their bilateral relations.  End 
summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
Egypt's African Stakes are Nile, Arab World Collar States 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶2. (C) On January 24, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul 
Gheit told A/S Jendayi Frazer in Khartoum outside the AU 
Summit that Africa is not a domain in which Egypt and the 
United States should compete, but rather cooperate.  Egypt's 
key interests in Africa are two-fold:  the Nile basin and the 
outer tier of the Arab world, which he described as 
Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, Eritrea, and Ethiopia.  Egypt 
wants to work with the USG to stabilize and help develop the 
continent.  He hopes both can exchange ideas and information. 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
Somalia:  "Not Ripe for Resolution," Egypt to Fund Talks 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
¶3. (C) On Somalia, Aboul Gheit said that despite "so many 
approaches, so many initiatives" that the situation still is 
not ripe for resolution.  Each warlord, he said, has his own 
interests at stake.  Egypt has contributed $2.5 million of an 
estimated $38 million needed to fund resolution efforts.  The 
UN has asked Cairo to host a Somali unification conference, 
he added, and Egypt expects the Arab League, EU, and others 
to fund the remainder.  A/S Frazer responded that the 
Inter-Governmental Agency for Development (IGAD) does not 
have the necessary resources to sponsor the talks, and that 
its members would not contribute troops for peace-keeping 
efforts there.  Ethiopia thinks it can control the Somali 
unification talks; viewing Somalia as a terrorist-prone 
wasteland, it is concerned that worldwide Islamic tendencies 
are on the rise. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
Darfur Misunderstood, Ignored, Influenced by Outsiders 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶4. (C) Regarding Sudan, Aboul-Gheit said that Western Europe 
did not understand the nature of the Darfur conflict. 
Changing climate and environmental factors had led to reduced 
rains, causing tribes to have to migrate in search of water 
and pasture land.  This triggered conflict through 
competition for scarce resources.  He also blamed the 
"stupidity of the government" in not giving enough attention 
to the Darfur region.  He also listed "outside powers" as 
key, stating that John Garang had "use Darfur to pressure the 
government's position" in addressing the North-South 
conflict.  Darfur, he said, needs "patience" and "even 
handedness; it should not be singled out as an issue.  The 
U.S. and former Secretary Powell were mistaken in applying 
the threat of economic sanctions, which are a "knife at the 
throat" of the Sudanese government.  This stance has changed 
somewhat, but the damage has been done. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
FM Aboul Gheit:  U.S. Should Work to Stabilize Darfur 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶5. (C) The U.S., he said, "should help (Darfur) through 
stabilization," which could include water resource management 
projects and "keeping the neighbors (Chad) out."  The U.S. 
must understand Darfur's culture, wherein an AK-47 denotes 
manhood and tribes attack one another for women, as though it 
were "Arabia 2000 years ago."  Islam came as an ideology, 
teaching respect for life and other ideas.  The U.S. needs to 
 
KHARTOUM 00000363  002 OF 002 
 
 
put in effort to gain a solution for Darfur; Aboul Gheit said 
Foreign Minister Lam Akol had mentioned to him the GNU's 
interest in working with the U.S. to form a plan to resolve 
the Darfur conflict.  Egypt also is keen to assist, as a 
means to "pacify the region." 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
FM Aboul Gehit Comments on Turabi, Libya, Eritrea, & Chad 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
¶6. (C) In response to A/S Frazer's question about the role of 
Hassan al-Turabi in Darfur, Aboul Gheit said that the 
Sudanese government is not eager to deal with him, fearing he 
might try to "topple the president."  "If you give him a 
knuckle, he will take an arm," he added.  Turabi may 
nonetheless be connected to the Justice and Equality Movement 
(JEM) and Sudan Liberation Army (SLA).  Regarding the recent 
JEM/SLA alliance, he said that the Libyans know, and "hold 
lots of keys."  Their interest is to "play a role," with as 
"authority emanates from the ability to influence others." 
The Libyans hence give arms to both sides; money also plays a 
role, although it is a short-term tactics, as it had to be 
furnished periodically.  Nonetheless, the Libyans share 
interest with Egypt ) peace and stability. 
¶7. (C) According to Aboul Gheit, Eritrea has a hand in 
Darfur, due to Ethiopia.  Asmara seeks to prevent Sudan and 
Ethiopia from developing "good relations."  Ethiopia "is hard 
to be a friend to," he noted. 
 
¶8. (C) Regarding Chad, Aboul Gheit said that the Zaghawa were 
"over-reciprocating" by crossing the Darfur-Chad border to 
wage attacks on both sides of it.  It would be helpful to 
"bring people with special knowledge" of the Zaghawa, he 
concluded.  Within "three years" the conflict could be 
"resolved." 
 
¶9. (U) A/S Frazer approved this message. 
 
¶10. (U) Tripoli minimize considered. 
HUME