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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KHARTOUM 002140 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/FO, AF/RSA, AND AF/E 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV IGAD MOPS EAID SU SO
SUBJECT: SOMALIA:  COMMUNIQUE FROM SECOND ROUND OF SOMALI 
TALKS IN KHARTOUM 
 
REF: KHARTOUM 01477 
 
KHARTOUM 00002140  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: Pol/Econ Chief E. Whitaker, Reason:  Section 1.4 (b) and 
 (d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  The final communique released on September 4 
by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Union of 
Islamic Courts (UIC) at the closure of the second round of 
talks in Khartoum calls for peaceful co-existence between 
factions and the cessation of encouragement and assistance to 
&warlords.8  The communique also calls for the 
reconstitution of the Somali National Army and national 
police force and the integration of TFG and UIC forces.  As a 
confidence building measure, a joint TFG-UIC committee will 
be formed to monitor follow-up of the communique,s provisos, 
and a technical committee, composed of representatives of the 
Arab League, will be established.  A third negotiating round 
is scheduled to begin on October 30 in Khartoum to address 
political and security issues, including power-sharing.  Key 
issues remaining include the presence of foreign troops, 
including potentially those of IGAD.  End summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
Second Round of Inter-Somali Talks Yields Results 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶2. (C) Following talks between representatives of the Union 
of Islamic Courts (UIC) and the Transitional Federal 
Government (TFG) September 2-4 in Khartoum, agreement on 
several points of discussion was reached late on the night of 
September 4-5.  This included a reaffirmation of the results 
of the first round of talks held in Khartoum held on June 22, 
2006, (reftel) as well as progress on a variety of security 
arrangements. 
 
---------------------- 
Text of the Communique 
---------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) The text of the eight-point communique ) informal 
German Embassy translation from Arabic ) is as follows: 
 
(Begin text) 
 
FINAL COMMUNIQUE OF THE 2ND ROUND OF TALKS HELD FOR THE 
DELEGATION OF THE TRANSITIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ISLAMIC 
COURTS BY THE LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES COMMITTEE ON SOMALIA 
 
KHARTOUM, 2)4 SEPTEMBER 2006 
 
On 2-4 September 2006, the second round of talks for the 
delegation of the Transitional Federal Government and Union 
of Islamic Courts was held in Khartoum to complement the 
first round that was convened in Khartoum on 22 June 2006. 
To ascertain the aspirations of the Somali people in 
attaining peace, stability, and reconstruction, the talks has 
been conducted in a mutual and brotherly atmosphere.  The two 
sides agreed on the following: 
 
¶1.  To honor and implement provisions of the agreement signed 
jointly in Khartoum - Sudan on 22 June 2006. 
 
¶2.  To reconstitute the Somali National Army and the national 
police force and work towards reintegration of the forces of 
the Union of Islamic Courts, the TFG, and other armed 
militias in the country.  This will be realized through an 
agreed framework that will be in place during the agreement 
on the political program. 
 
¶3.  The two sides agreed to practice the principles of being 
a good neighbor and observing peaceful co-existence between 
Somalia and its neighboring countries as well as 
non-interference in each others' affairs so as to create an 
atmosphere conducive to building understanding and confidence. 
 
¶4.  The two sides should refrain from helping, rearming, and 
encouraging warlords. 
 
¶5.  The two sides should honor the unity and the nationhood 
of the Somali people. 
 
¶6.  The two sides should honor the will of the Somali people 
 
KHARTOUM 00002140  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
wherever they are. 
 
¶7.  The remaining aspects of this agreement, including 
discussions on political, power-sharing, and security issues, 
will be deliberated on the third round of the talks. 
 
¶8.  Institute a joint committee that would follow-up the 
agreement and at the same time exchange visits to build 
confidence and mutual collaboration. 
 
¶9.  The two sides agreed formation of a technical committee 
consisting of the Arab League Presidency ) Sudan, Arab 
League General Secretariat, Arab League Committee on Somalia, 
and others from the Transitional Federal Government and Union 
of the Islamic Courts. 
 
¶10.  The two sides agreed to meet again in Khartoum -Sudan 
for the third phase of the talks on 30 October 2006. 
 
¶11.  Present at the meeting were:  the United Nations, 
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), European Union, 
African Union, and Intergovernmental Authority on Development 
(IGAD).  It was also agreed that the above stated 
organizations would participate in the upcoming meetings that 
would discuss the aforementioned issues. 
 
¶12.  The two sides expressed their gratitude to the people 
and the Government of Sudan as well as President Omar Hassan 
al-Bashir for hosting the talks and at the same time 
reaffirmed their commitment in pursuance of measures to 
ascertain the aspirations of the Somali people. 
 
Dr. Abdullahi Shiekh Ismail 
 
1st Deputy Prime Minister of the 
 
Transitional Federal Government 
 
Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Adow 
Head of the UIC Delegation 
 
Signed as Witness 
 
 
Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin 
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sudan 
 
Signed as Witness 
 
Amb. Dr. Salah Abdirisak Halima 
Advisor to the Secretary General of the Arab League 
 
Done in Khartoum, Tuesday, 4 September 2006. 
 
(End text) 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
3rd Round of Talks to Take Place in Khartoum Oct. 30 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶4. (C) The second round concluded with an agreement to 
discuss power sharing, political issues, and security 
arrangements at a third round to commence on October 30 in 
Khartoum.  Although there will not be mediators, it was 
agreed that several entities would serve as observers at the 
third round:  UN, IGAD, AU, OIC, and EU.  Local press 
accounts in Arabic cite Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs 
Lam Akol as expressing trust that both sides would abide by 
commitments made, and that the third round would be the last. 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
UIC:  Presence of Foreign Troops Impedes Progress 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶5. (C) During a September 3 briefing of representatives from 
the U.S., UK, Germany, Finland, and Sweden, as well as 
Italian Special Envoy to Somalia Mario Rafaeli, EU Assistant 
Field Officer for Somalia Operations Ahmed Khalif, and Arab 
League Ambassador to Kenya and Special Envoy for Somalia 
Salim Mohammed Salim al Khussaibi, UIC delegation head and 
 
KHARTOUM 00002140  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
Secretary General for Foreign Affairs Ibrahim Hassan Adow 
 
SIPDIS 
stated, in English, that talks were proceeding in a relaxed 
environment marked by mutual respect.  Misconceptions had 
been cleared up, and discussion took up where it had left off 
in the first round in June.  His main concern was that 
Ethiopian troops had entered Somalia at the TFG's invitation, 
and now were present in seven or eight places within Somalia, 
with human rights abuses and killings taking place.  Adow 
said that foreign forces had no place in Somalia, and served 
only to isolate the TFG and complicate the political 
situation, while threatening to expand TFG-held areas.  He 
doubted the presence of Eritrean forces with Somalia, and 
said that they should be removed if found. 
 
¶6. (C) Adow closed by inviting participants to visit 
Mogadishu, which he said was now safe.  The people of Somalia 
are in need of immediate help, and the international 
community should become involved, while remaining politically 
neutral.  Somalia's family is divided, and we want to make it 
one again. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
TFG: Committed to Agreement, Despite Serious Differences 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
¶7. (C) That same evening, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden of the 
TFG advised the same audience through translation from Arabic 
that the TFG was determined and committed to a resolution of 
the "serious differences" between the parties.  He expressed 
hopes for an agreement, and noted that the parties had been 
meeting continuously since arrival in Khartoum.  Aden said 
the TFG aspired to the maximum achievable agreement, while 
admitting that agreement could not be found for all issues. 
He said the TFG delegation would not leave Khartoum without a 
communique, and would consult those present if roadblocks 
occurred.  Aden stated that he was not aware of foreign 
troops in Somalia now, and added that the need for them may 
be eliminated; he had heard reports of the presence of 
troops, but had not seen verification.  Their presence is a 
fundamental issue that has to be resolved through dialogue, 
although ultimately resting with parliament. 
 
¶8. (C) Aden observed that during the second round the TFG 
wished to discuss political issues first, and then security 
matters, while the UIC sought the opposite.  After much 
discussion the TFG agreed to the latter approach.  The second 
round of talks started with a mutual reaffirmation of the 
first round's agreement; the TFG has a formula for power 
sharing and is willing to accommodate the UIC.  He said that 
both sides regarded the presence of IGAD troops as an issue 
yet to be resolved; IGAD is divided, as is the international 
community.  He urged the international community to be 
constructive, and to speak forthrightly by asking IGAD to 
accept the situation as it is.  Conflict among IGAD states is 
being transferred in to Somalia, he added.  The TFG, he 
concluded, is a weak government that cannot protect itself 
from its neighbors; it is a victim of regional aggression and 
insecurity. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶9. (C) In both briefings, Contact Group representatives 
expressed support for ongoing dialogue, a formal communique 
outlining areas where progress was reached, and a commitment 
by both parties to a subsequent negotiating round.  Also, in 
both briefings guests were made to feel welcome by their 
interlocutors, with the presence of a U.S. diplomat expressly 
appreciated.  End comment. 
 
¶10. (U) Tripoli minimize considered. 
HUME