VZCZCXRO7062
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1550 1831355
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 021355Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3498
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0029
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 001550 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/02/2016 
TAGS: PREL KPKO PGOV SOCI MARR AU AS SU
SUBJECT: SUDAN:  AUSTRALIAN SHADOW FM DISCUSSES DARFUR, 
CHINA 
 
 
Classified By: Pol/Econ E. Whitaker, Reason:  Section 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  Australian Shadow Minister for Foreign 
Affairs Kevin Rudd discussed security and humanitarian access 
issues with the Charge on June 29.  The discussion included 
the possibility of China's assuming a constructive role in 
Darfur in addition to its current economic partnership with 
Sudan.  End summary. 
 
Charge Hume:  UN Capacity Needed in Darfur; AMIS Lacking 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
¶2. (C) On June 29, Australian Shadow Minister for Foreign 
Affairs, Trade and International Security and Federal Member 
Kevin Rudd, accompanied by Cairo-based Third Secretary Stuart 
Campbell, called on Charge Hume.  Ruud, a former diplomat, 
related his recent meeting with the Deputy Secretary and his 
interest in both the security and humanitarian access aspects 
of Darfur.  In response to his inquiry about what could be 
done to assist, Charge Hume noted the importance of getting 
the UN on the ground in Darfur, as the African Union Mission 
in Sudan (AMIS) lacks capacity and is distrusted by 
Darfurians, who regard it as being too close to the Sudanese 
Government.  The UN is larger and more mature, and has the 
organizational capacity to establish a secure environment 
where refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) could 
return home to plant crops at the end of the rainy season 
just now beginning.  Expanding the number of AMIS troops 
alone would not address security needs adequately, but would 
rather compound the complexity of its own operations. 
 
 
Ruud Probes Nature of Sudan's Objections to UN PKO 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶3. (C) Ruud inquired regarding the nature of the Sudanese 
Government's objections to transitioning to a UN peacekeeping 
force; the Charge said it feared U.S. involvement, and 
remained apprehensive about the ICC.  Rejecting a UN 
peacekeeping mission reflects internal political dynamics, 
even though the Sudanese Government realizes that AMIS cannot 
carry out its mission.  Eventually, a UN mission will be 
permitted a role, he added. 
 
Ruud Inquires about Humanitarian Access, WFP Shortfalls 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶4. (C) Regarding humanitarian aspects, Ruud asked whether 
access remained an issue.  The Charge said that despite a 
difficult operational environment, access is nonetheless 
adequate.  This has created a certain level of dependence, 
however, upon IDP camps for food, health care, and education, 
none of which exist in abundance outside.  It will take years 
for most to become self-sustaining in their home villages, he 
noted.  Ruud also expressed concerns about potential WFP 
funding shortfalls later in 2006; the Charge said that the 
gap between projected needs and pledges is narrowing, but 
that the key factor in the food equation would be the extent 
of planting taking place during the end of the rainy season 
in August-September. 
 
China:  From Economic Partner to Peace Builder? 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶5. (C) A China hand, Ruud observed the importance of Sudanese 
oil to China; he also mentioned a recent visit by a group of 
Chinese laws enforcement officers to Sudan.  The Charge 
concurred that the China-Sudan relationship is expanding, 
noting that seven percent of China's oil already derives from 
Sudan, and that China had made 13 of the largest 15 
investment projects so far.  A little distance remains 
between Sudan and China, however, and Sudan was not on the 
itinerary for either of two major African tours by Chinese 
governmental delegations so far this year.  The Charge said 
China might be able to play a positive role in anchoring 
peace in Darfur.  Ruud said China does not appear to object 
to the findings of the recent joint African Union ) UN 
technical assessment mission on a transition to a UN 
peacekeeping operation, and added that China might not object 
to UNSC action to launch such a mission. 
HUME