VZCZCXRO4951
OO RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKH #0574/01 1040650
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 140650Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6821
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA IMMEDIATE 0081
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT IMMEDIATE 0010
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 0116

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000574 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF/SE NATSIOS AND IO A/S 
SILVERBERG, NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2017 
TAGS: OVIP NEGROPONTE JOHN EAID MOPS PGOV PINR PREF
PREL, PHUM, KPKO, UN, AU-1, SU 
SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH SUDANESE STATE 
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AS SAMMANI 
 
 
KHARTOUM 00000574  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: CDA C. Hume, Reason: Section 1.4 (b) and (d 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  Meeting with Deputy Secretary Negroponte, 
State Minster for Foreign Affairs As Sammani appealed for 
dialogue to "unlock" the situation in Darfur and urged the 
U.S. to push the non-signatory rebel groups to join the 
Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA).  The Deputy Secretary urged the 
Sudanese to adhere to the agreement reached in Addis Ababa in 
November and to open the way for a peacekeepers, under full 
UN command and control, to deploy to Darfur.  The Sudanese 
described the March 28 agreement to improve humanitarian 
access to Darfur as "a landmark."  The Deputy Secretary said 
that the United States will be watching to see the practical 
effect of the agreement on access.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) State Minister for Foreign Affairs As Sammani Al 
Waseela As Sammani met with Deputy Secretary Negroponte the 
evening of April 12 at his residence in Khartoum.  The 
meeting was followed by a working dinner to welcome the 
Deputy Secretary and his party to Sudan. 
 
¶3. (C) The Deputy Secretary opened his remarks by stating 
that the reason for his visit is Darfur.  He stressed that 
recent agreements, including the one reached in Addis Ababa 
November 16, 2006 must be implemented.  A follow-on 
peace-keeping mission, under full UN command and control, 
must then be deployed in Darfur.  Resolution of the crisis in 
Darfur is key to improvement in the bilateral relationship. 
He noted that humanitarian and security issues are 
intertwined.  Successful implementation of a UN mission in 
Darfur would deprive critics of Sudan of their arguments. 
Success could build on success, creating a positive, upward 
spiral. 
 
--------------------------- 
Political Process in Darfur 
--------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C) In reply, As Sammani stated that he welcomed the visit 
as an opportunity for dialogue.  He stressed that dialogue is 
needed to "unlock" the situation and move on to the next 
step.  Briefly recounting the history of the Darfur Peace 
Agreement (DPA), As Summani expressed appreciation for the 
efforts of former Deputy Secretary Zoellick and Charge' Hume 
for their help in negotiating the agreement in Abuja and 
appealed to the U.S. for continued engagement.  As Summani 
returned repeatedly to the need to bring the non-signatory 
rebel groups onboard the agreement, saying that no peace can 
be sustained if some of the main players are not part of it. 
He appealed to the U.S. to put pressure on the non-signatory 
groups.  He complained that the leaders of these groups are 
"staying in five-star hotels" and visiting foreign ministries 
in Europe, and thus have little incentive to reach an 
agreement on the ground. 
 
----------------------------- 
Good Faith Efforts Unrewarded 
----------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) As Sammani emphasized that there is a feeling that 
Sudan had made good faith efforts, but had not received the 
recognition and benefits that should have followed.  He 
complained that after signing the November 16 agreement in 
Addis Ababa, Sudan had been "bombarded" with negative media 
attention.  In addition, donors were not as supportive as had 
been hoped.  He cited the case of the World Food Program 
(WFP), claiming that shortly after the peace agreement was 
signed, WFP cut its program, forcing the government of Sudan 
to replace 20,000 tons of food that it felt had been pledged 
by WFP.  USAID advisor Garvelink interjected that while WFP 
had initially indicated it would have to reduce food 
shipments, in the end the full amount was delivered. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
Humanitarian Agreement Claimed as a Breakthrough 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶6. (C) Director General for Humanitarian Affairs Yousuf 
reiterated his government's committment to humanitarian aid 
in Darfur, saying the March 28 agreement is a "landmark" and 
explained that, for the first time, there is a mechanism to 
deal with problems as they emerge.  The agreement sets up a 
 
KHARTOUM 00000574  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
tripartite structure with the UN, Government and NGOs to meet 
monthly to identify and resolve problems.  Commenting on the 
UN heavy support package, Yousuf stated that all issues but 
one (attack helicopters) have been resolved and that one 
remaining issue is the subject of ongoing consultations.  He 
also urged that pressure be put on the non-signatories to 
negotiate and asked what the U.S. could do to persuade the 
non-signatories to come on board.  Charge' Hume replied that 
it is difficult to force people to talk.  It is necessary to 
create the right conditions first.  Saying that a military 
offensive is clearly not the right way, he commended the 
Sudanese government for its restraint as efforts were made to 
bring together a commanders' conference.  Assistant Secretary 
Frazer said that a credible and neutral peacekeeping force 
would help to create the conditions for dialogue.  She 
stressed the need for a single forum for discussions, the 
UN/AU being the best option. 
 
---------------------- 
UN Command and Control 
---------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) After As Sammani invited everyone to "concentrate on 
more dialogue," conversation turned to the issue of 
deployment of a peace-keeping mission in Darfur and the 
importance of UN command and control.  As Sammani asked 
whether the U.S. would support an agreement reached between 
the UN, the AU and the government of Sudan.  The Deputy 
Secretary replied that, if the agreement is reasonable, the 
 
SIPDIS 
U.S. would support it.  Director General Yousuf, a lawyer, 
stated that in his view, the issue of command and control 
will be governed by the mandate and it is imperative that the 
mandate direct the peacekeeping mission to assist with the 
implementation of the DPA. 
 
¶8. (U) Participants: 
 
U.S. 
The Deputy Secretary 
Jendayi E. Frazer, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs 
Cameron Hume, Charge d'Affairs 
Bobby Pittman, Senior Director for Africa, National Security 
Council 
Gustavo Delgado, D staff 
Bill Garvelink, USAID 
Curtis Stewart (Embassy Notetaker) 
 
Government of Sudan 
As Sammani Al Waseela As Sammani, State Minister for Foreign 
Affairs 
Sirajuddin Hamid Yousif, Director General for Humanitarian 
Affairs 
Ambassador Abdel Basit Badawi al Sanousi, Director, Americas 
Division 
Abdel Rahman Sharfi, Minister Plenipotentiary 
HUME