US embassy cable - 04BRUSSELS2410

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 002410 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2014 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, PHUM, PREF, SU, PROV, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: EU ON DARFUR HUMANITARIAN CRISIS 
 
REF: (A) STATE 122317 (B) DUBLIN 0850 (C) BRUSSELS 2354 
 
Classified By: PRMOFF MARC J. MEZNAR.  REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C)  Summary.  The EU Council Secretariat will recommend 
to the Irish Presidency that they adopt a similar approach 
outlined in reftel A, demarching friendly Arab and African 
states over the deteriorating situation in Sudan.  The EU 
announced a 10 million euro contribution to address 
humanitarian needs in Darfur and highlighted the problems aid 
workers have experienced in obtaining access to the needy 
regions.  The EU is working on a Council Conclusion regarding 
Sudan to be issued in June which will focus on the Ceasefire 
Commission (CFC) and other positive developments.  The EU 
will authorize funds from the newly established Africa Peace 
Facility (APF) for the CFC and will contribute personnel 
including the vice chair and at least six military observers. 
 These will probably be supplied by Member States, although 
some may come from the EU Military Staff or possibly under 
the umbrella of an ESDP operation.  End Summary. 
 
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EU positive on demarche initiative 
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2.  (C) Per reftel a, PRMOff delivered talking points to EU 
Council Secretariat policy advisor on Sudan Christian Manahl 
on 6/3.  He said that he personally thought the approach was 
creative and could be effective, noting the embarrassment to 
the GoS of Muslims attacking Muslims in Darfur.  He will 
raise the issue on 6/8 with the Irish Presidency in advance 
of the Africa working group meeting and hopefully gain 
consensus from the EU Member States for a similar demarche. 
Post will report on significant developments from this 
meeting. 
 
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Contributions/concerns over humanitarian needs in Darfur 
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3. (U) Regarding the humanitarian needs in Darfur, on 6/3 the 
EC announced 10 million euros for assistance to the region in 
conjunction with the donors' consultative meeting in Geneva 
(reftel b).  Commissioner Poul Nielson's press statement 
decried the "unnecessary bureaucratic constraints" imposed by 
the GoS and called for unhindered access.  According to 
ECHO's Nairobi based officer Peter Holdsworth, the granting 
of authorizations "seems to be totally at the whim of the 
bureaucracy and government."  He noted, "The roads are very 
difficult and there are a limited number of airfields.  If 
one hasn't got capacity on the ground, it is very difficult 
to carry out an operation.  And the reason why there isn't 
capacity on the ground is because it is very difficult to get 
visas." 
 
4. (U) At the Geneva conference, Irish Development Minister 
Tom Kitts said that "the most crucial elements needed in 
Darfur today are human security and protection, humanitarian 
access and respect for international human rights and 
humanitarian law.  On security it is the responsibility of 
the GoS to ensure that an immediate end is put to the massive 
displacements and to provide a safe environment to enable 
people to return to their homes.  It is vital that all 
parties to the conflict, but especially the GoS, adhere to 
the principles of humanitarian law." 
 
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Supporting the Ceasefire Commission 
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5. (C) Manahl stated the EU is working on a Council 
Conclusion for Darfur to be issued at the upcoming Foreign 
Ministers' Summit in mid-June.  He said they had wanted a 
broader statement on the future of EU-Sudan relations, but 
since the peace negotiations in Naivasha still have not 
concluded this will have to wait until the Dutch presidency. 
The statement will commend the GoS and SPLM/A for signing the 
protocols on 5/26 in Naivasha on power sharing in the 
contentious areas of Abyei, Nuba Mountains and Southern Blue 
Nile and call on them to conclude a comprehensive peace 
agreement. 
6. (C) The statement will also welcome the signing of the 
ceasefire agreement in N'Djamena on 4/8 and the agreement 
signed in Addis Ababa on 5/28 regarding the modalities of 
implementing a cease fire commission.  The CFC will help 
avert a "looming humanitarian catastrophe" and also create an 
atmosphere conducive to addressing the underlying causes of 
the Darfur crisis.  The EU has been assigned the role of the 
vice chair of the CFC which will be based in El Fasher, 
Darfur and will also contribute six observers.  These will 
probably be supplied by Member States, although some may come 
from the EU Military Staff or possibly under the umbrella of 
an ESDP operation.  The final decision might be influenced as 
much by financing options as by politics.  The statement will 
also announce use of the new EU-funded Africa Peace Facility 
by the AU to finance half of the CFC (reftel c).  The UK and 
Denmark are also expected to contribute financially to the 
CFC. 
 
Minimize considered. 
 
FOSTER