Cablegate: Syg Ban Briefs the Council On Un/Au Pol Process,

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OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHGI RUEHJO RUEHMA RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHROV
RUEHTRO
DE RUCNDT #0747 2561424
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 131424Z SEP 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2578
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000747

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

AF, IO AND NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC SU
SUBJECT: SYG BAN BRIEFS THE COUNCIL ON UN/AU POL PROCESS,
UNAMID

REF: A. KANG-LEVINSON EMAILS 10/12/07
B. KANG-LEVINSON EMAILS 10/11/07

1. (U) SUMMARY: SYG Ban Ki-Moon briefed the UNSC September 12
on his recent travels to Sudan, Chad and Libya and provided
an update on UNAMID deployment. SYG Ban asked for UNSC
members to support the planned meeting between the Government
of National Unity (GNU) and the Darfur rebel groups to be
convened in Tripoli on October 27. In regard to UNAMID
implementation, SYG Ban asked the UNSC to assist DPKO with
attaining pledges of specialized military units, specifically
transport and aviation assets. Delegations praised SYG Ban's
efforts to find a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, voiced
frustration with the escalating violence in Darfur and asked
the UN to move forward quickly with full implementation of
UNAMID. END SUMMARY.

--------------------------------
SYG Ban Calls on UNSC to Support
POL Process, UNAMID Deployment
--------------------------------

2. (U) In closed UNSC consultations on September 12, SYG Ban
reported that he held a series of productive meetings with
Sudanese President Bashir, Chadian President Idriss Deby and
Libyan President Qaddafi during his September visit to the
region. SYG Ban called on the international community to
support the UN/AU political process and asked UNSC members to
encourage rebel leaders to attend the October 27 UN/AU
brokered Darfur peace talks in Tripoli (ref A). SYG Ban
reported that he had been warmly received throughout the
region and said that political momentum is building for the
October 27 meeting in Tripoli between the GNU and Darfur
rebel groups, but acknowledged that ongoing rebel attacks and
SAF aerial bombings threatened to derail it. SYG Ban asked
UNSC members to use their influence with rebel groups and the
GNU to attain a cessation of hostilities. SYG Ban said he
had asked President Bashir to "exercise maximum restraint"
and reported that Bashir had responded positively.

3. (U) In regard to UNAMID implementation, SYG Ban said DPKO
has made substantial progress on addressing troop
contributions of light infantry, but lacked substantial
support from TCCs to meet UNAMID requirements for specialized
and mechanized units. (NOTE: DPKO provided a September 10
briefing on UNAMID shortfalls to be reported septel. END
NOTE.) SYG Ban said that many of these specialized assets
would have to come from "non-African countries" and asked
UNSC members to assist DPKO with attaining the required
contributions.

----------------------------
UNSC Members focused on
POL Process, Darfur Violence
----------------------------

4. (U) AMB Khalilzad delivered reftel talking points,
highlighting USG support for the UN/AU political process (ref
B). He added that all players in the Darfur conflict must be
appropriately represented and that Sudan Liberation Movement
faction leader Abdelwahid al-Nur must be pressed to attend.
In regard to the venue, AMB Khalilzad welcomed Libya's
willingness to host the October 27 meeting and stressed that
the UN must maintain control over the arrangements so that
discussions can unfold in a neutral, positive atmosphere.
AMB Khalilzad added that a cessation of hostilities by all
parties in Darfur would contribute to the success of the
October 27 discussions.

5. (U) Delegations broadly echoed calls for a cessation of
hostilities in the lead up to the Tripoli meetings and called
for rapid UNAMID implementation. UNSC members agreed that
all rebel factions must be appropriately represented. PRC PR
Wang said that the UNSC must send a "unified message" on
Darfur in the lead up to the Tripoli discussions and asked
that "those with particular influence over the Darfur rebel
groups" encourage full participation in the meeting. French
PR Ripert said the pending Chad/CAR draft resolution would
complement UNAMID implementation and asked the UNSC to move
forward quickly with the negotiating process. Italian PR
Spatafora said that Sudanese President Bashir is slated to
visit Rome next week and promised that the Government of
Italy would ensure that its message tracked with the SYG's
efforts.

KHALILZAD

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