US embassy cable - 04BRUSSELS4410

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 004410 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PREF, PHUM, SU, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: EU CONTINUES TO EXERT PRESSURE ON SUDAN: SNYDER 
CONSULTATIONS 
 
REF: BRUSSELS 4016 
 
Classified By: PRMOFF MARC J. MEZNAR.  REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary.  During October 11 consultations with 
Department's Senior Representative on Sudan Charles Snyder, 
the EU shared Snyder's assessment that concluding a 
comprehensive peace settlement between the North and the 
South was essential to stabilize the country.  Snyder said 
the EU's generous assistance package was an important 
"carrot" in this process.  The two sides discussed ways to 
cooperate in expediting the deployment of an expanded AU 
protection force to Darfur.  Javier Solana's Personal 
Representative for Sudan Pieter Feith said he would encourage 
EU Member States to provide in-kind logistical support.  EU 
military planners, however, cautioned that too much pressure 
to "fast forward" the deployment might provoke a failed 
mission.  Nonetheless, EU advisors in Addis are helping the 
AU reformulate its request for EU funding that would allow 
1000 military personnel to be on the ground in Darfur by 
October 30.  The Commission is prepared to fund up to 50 
percent of this entire operation.  The EU informed Snyder 
that a high level EU delegation led by Dutch Foreign Minister 
Ben Bot would leave for Sudan on October 12.  The EU will 
pressure the Sudanese government to finish the Naivasha peace 
talks and to end the violence in Darfur.   Following a 
meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg on October 11, 
the EU again called on the Government of Sudan to disarm the 
janjaweed militias and to facilitate humanitarian access. 
They also said the threat of sanctions against Sudan must be 
maintained.  End Summary. 
 
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North-South Peace Agreement 
------------------------ 
 
2. (SBU)  In separate meetings with the European Commission 
and the European Council on October 11, Snyder gave readouts 
of his recent meetings with Sudanese Vice President Taha and 
other officials in the region.  The EU shared his assessment 
that concluding a comprehensive peace settlement between the 
North and the South was essential to stabilize the country. 
Anders Henriksson, Director for Horn, East and Southern 
Africa (DG Development), said that EU Foreign Ministers would 
stress this point in their conclusions on Sudan later in the 
day.  Snyder characterized the large EU assistance packages 
as an important "carrot" in encourage the opposing factions 
to work towards a comprehensive peace settlement.  Henriksson 
said that the longer the two sides took to finalize the peace 
accords, the less money would be available.  Already, 10 
percent of the total package for Sudan has been re-programmed 
to other parts of Africa (including the EU's number one 
priority on the continent, the Great Lakes).  The EC also 
noted that increasing revenue from oil makes the Sudanese 
less dependent on development assistance. 
 
3.  (U) The EU informed Snyder that a high level EU 
delegation led by Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot would leave 
for Sudan on October 12.  The EU will pressure the Sudanese 
government to finish the Naivasha peace talks and to end the 
violence in Darfur. 
 
4. (U) Note. The EU Council conclusion Henriksson referred to 
"notes with appreciation the resumption of the negotiations 
between the GoS and the SPLM/A under the auspices of IGAD and 
urges both parties to conclude the discussions on the 
outstanding issues as soon as possible, to sign a 
comprehensive peace agreement and to implement it without 
delay.  The Council is of the view that a speedy conclusion 
of the 'Naivasha process' could provide a political platform 
to address the underlying causes of the ongoing conflicts in 
Sudan, including Darfur; to accelerate the pace of reforms; 
to promote human rights; and to establish a genuine and 
constrictive dialogue with the political forces that are not 
present in Naivasha." End note. 
 
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Expanded AU Mission in Darfur 
------------------------ 
 
5.  (C) The two sides also discussed at length the role of 
the AU in stabilizing the situation in Darfur.  Fernando 
Valenzuela, Deputy Director General of DG RELEX, spoke of the 
delicate balancing act between allowing the AU to take 
ownership of the process while providing enough support to 
ensure a successful outcome.  He said that the UN was well 
placed to convey to the AU the importance of the donor 
community's involvement with the logistical planning and 
deployment of the expanded monitoring and protection force. 
Valenzuela also opined that the AU should see the logic in 
acknowledging they are not ready to go at it alone.  Both 
sides agreed that the African Mission in Sudan (AMIS) might 
mirror the role played by AMIB in Burundi -- a bridge to a 
full-fledged UN peacekeeping operation. 
 
6. (C) The EU asked about the "BBQ approach" (broad, big and 
quick) to deployment in Darfur, recently espoused by the U.S. 
 Council Secretariat Coordinator of Political-Military and 
Defense Policy Relations Matthew Reece expressed doubt 
whether "fast forwarding" the mission was logistically 
possible.  He said that since there was virtually nothing on 
the ground to support a large deployment, equipment and 
supplies would have to be procured and then flown in.  Snyder 
said that because helicopter gunship attacks on civilian 
populations were continuing (he reported an additional 10,000 
people had been displaced over the past few days), the U.S. 
was committed to support an expanded deployment as soon as 
possible.  He explained that the U.S. goal is for 10,000 
military personnel to be on the ground in Darfur by October 
30; Snyder indicated the Pentagon would make two C-130's 
available to ferry in troops. 
 
7.  (C)  Reece said he understood the purpose, and noted that 
Peter Stamps, an EU advisor in Addis, was helping the AU 
reformulate its request for financial support from the EU's 
Africa Peace Facility to meet this goal.  Feith said he would 
encourage EU Member States to provide in-kind logistical 
support.  He also stated that Solana was planning to travel 
to Addis on or about October 21, right after the AU's Peace 
and Security Council is expected to approve the expansion of 
the AU ceasefire commission in Darfur.  The EU hopes to 
receive a list of requirements at the earliest opportunity. 
According to DG Development Sudan Desk officer, Joaquim 
Salgueiro, the Commission is prepared to fund up to 50 
percent of the expanded deployment (estimated total is 180 
million euros for 12 months). 
 
8. (U) Note.  EU Council conclusions on the AU mission in 
Darfur state:  "The Council reaffirms its commitment to 
assist the AU in the planning and implementation of a 
significantly expanded pro-active monitoring mission with a 
sufficiently broad mandate, in order to improve the security 
in Darfur."  It also takes note of the GoS's commitment to 
"cooperate with an enlarged AU monitoring mission with an 
expanded mandate and a possible police component, as decided 
by the AU."  End Note. 
 
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Genocide Designation 
------------------------ 
 
9. (C)  Regarding genocide, Valenzuela noted that the EU had 
not been as forward-leaning as the U.S. because the 
implications of making such a designation were enormous.  He 
welcomed the formation of a UN committee to investigate and 
noted that an Italian national was invited to participate. 
Regarding the European Parliament's resolution that events in 
Darfur were "paramount to genocide" (reftel), Valenzuela said 
that there was no legal consequence within the EU system or 
any obligation to act as a result of the finding.  Valenzuela 
agreed with Snyder's assessment that the Sudanese were well 
able to withstand a sanctions regime.  He added that the main 
EU sanction -- a freeze in assistance -- was already in 
place. 
 
10.  (U)  Note.  EU Council conclusions relating to genocide 
state:  "The Council welcomes the recent mission and the 
recommendations of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 
and of the UN Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide 
in Darfur.  The Council further welcomes the decision of the 
UNHCHR to increase the number of human rights monitors in 
Darfur.  The Council welcomes the UNSC Resolution 1564 and 
the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into violations 
of international humanitarian law and human rights in Darfur 
by all parties, with a mandate that includes investigating 
whether acts of genocide have occurred in Darfur.  The 
Council calls upon all parties to extend their full 
cooperation to this Commission of Inquiry."  End Note. 
 
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Other issues 
------------------------ 
 
11. (C) The two sides touched briefly on other issues. 
Regarding the political situation in Khartoum, the EU 
expressed its continuing fears of a total collapse of the 
government and  disintegration of the country.  Both sides 
agreed on the positive contributions Egypt has made and 
expressed disappointment for the lack of progress made in 
Abuja. Regarding the humanitarian situation, they noted 
improvements including a huge expansion of national and 
international NGOs operating in the region.  However, they 
agreed that these gains were offset by new displacements of 
civilians. 
 
12. (U)  Note.  The EU Council conclusion of October 11 
requests that "the GoS provide information on actions taken 
thus far to neutralize and disarm the Janjaweed militias and 
to bring to justice perpetrators of human rights violations 
and crimes against civilians."  In also "notes with urgency 
the need for additional humanitarian assistance and 
coordination.  The EU has already committed well over 300 
million euros.  The Council also emphasizes that humanitarian 
assistance and measures to enhance security are mutually 
supportive, and deserve equal attention by the international 
community."  End Note. 
 
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Comment 
------------------------ 
 
13. (C) All EU interlocutors were extremely thankful for 
Snyder's report fresh from the field, particularly as 
Henriksson was leaving within hours for Sudan as part of the 
Dutch Presidency's delegation.  Although Sudan plays second 
fiddle to the primacy of the Great Lakes with regard to EU 
interest in Africa, it still is considered an important, 
developing situation.  Furthermore, the EU is well aware of 
the importance the U.S. attaches to Sudan.  It's willingness 
to financially support a stepped-up expansion of the AU 
protection force in Darfur -- despite advice from its own 
technical experts to go slowly -- reflects this 
understanding. 
 
(Ambassador Snyder has cleared this message.) 
 
Minimize considered. 
 
SCHNABEL