US embassy cable - 05NDJAMENA1262

UNCLAS  NDJAMENA 001262 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: CD, PREL, PREF, KUNR, Darfur Policy and Rebels, Bilateral Issues 
SUBJECT: CHAD: MEETING WITH NEW FOREIGN MINISTER 
 
REF: a) SECSTATE 138991 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  In a wide-ranging meeting with the 
newly installed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Allam-mi 
Ahmad (former diplomatic advisor to the President), the 
Minister commented on the current state of the Darfur 
peace process and the need for the rebel movements to 
"improve representivity."  He also reiterated the AU 
position on Security Council reform.  In view of 
President Deby's anticipated travel to the opening of 
the UN General Assembly, Minister Ahmad expressed the 
hope that President Deby might be received in 
Washington.  He also raised the possibility of a 
meeting between President Deby and Secretary Rice 
during the UNGA.  End summary. 
 
U.S./Chad relations 
------------------- 
2. (SBU) Ambassador Wall met with newly-installed 
Minister of Foreign Affairs Allam-mi Ahmad August 15, 
2005.   Minister Ahmad apologized for moving the 
meeting earlier, explaining that he was receiving a 
large, high-level delegation from the Government of 
Sudan later in the day.   In response to Ambassador 
Wall's question concerning his priorities on assuming 
his position, Minister Ahmad expressed hope of working 
on the Chad/U.S. bilateral relationship.  In that 
context, he noted that U.S.engagement in Chad had been 
stronger in previous years.  He segued into a 
discussion of President Deby's anticipated visit to New 
York for the opening of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). 
He pointed out that it was a costly trip to make just 
for that event.  He expressed the hope that there might 
be a possibility of President Deby being received in 
Washington.  He commented "we have an image problem in 
your country - we hope we can help this."  In a 
subsequent conversation he raised as well the 
possibility of a meeting between President Deby and 
Secretary Rice during the UNGA. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
Darfur 
------ 
3.  (SBU) The Ambassador mentioned Darfur as an 
important priority, and Minister Ahmad turned to that 
issue with alacrity.  He mentioned that Konare had been 
in N'djamena three or four times, most recently on 
August 10.  He emphasized that it was important to 
improve the "representivity" of the rebel groups.  He 
commented that they were divided on the ground.  He 
noted that the GOC was urged to "improve governance." 
The same thing could be said about the Darfur groups. 
Concerning a meeting of all of the Darfur rebel groups, 
he mused whether this should not be handled as in the 
case of Burundi or Congo - i.e., by opening the 
political dialogue to all sectors (comment: including 
civil society).   He noted, however, that the GOS 
naturally preferred to have the rebel movements divided 
and weak. 
 
4. (SBU) Turning to the negotiations in Nigeria, he 
mentioned that these were expensive to hold, 
particularly given the fact that delegations (already 
large) expanded with wives, girlfriends, etc.  He 
cautioned that such meetings should not be held at the 
Sheraton in Abuja - rather they should be held 
somewhere less expensive (with fewer night clubs.) 
 
5. (SBU) The Ambassador reiterated that Darfur was a 
priority and that the USG wanted to work with the GOC 
on this issue.  He also mentioned the possibility of a 
visit by Roger Winter, new Special Envoy for Sudan. 
Minister Ahmad welcomed the possibility, reminding the 
Ambassador that he had known Winter for some time and 
had worked with him.  He acknowledged that Winter "had 
a big influence on the movements." 
 
UN Reform 
--------- 
6.  (SBU) Turning to UN reform (reftel), the Ambassador 
stressed the importance of improving the effectiveness 
and efficiency of the UN before UN Security Council 
reform.  Minister Ahmad stated that Chad shared the AU 
position agreed at the last AU meeting in Addis Ababa: 
two permanent seats with a veto.  He noted that the 
needs of the African continent - the only continent 
 
(according to him) without permanent representation on 
the Security Council at this time - should not be 
confused with those of the G-4.  That being said, he 
pointed out that African nations by and large did not 
have the means or the capacity to categorically oppose 
what the "great powers" want and that Africa's lack of 
a voice and veto on the Security Council might well 
continue for some time to come. 
 
7.  (SBU) In closing, Minister Ahmad expressed an 
interest in going to Washington to meet with 
counterparts after the UNGA; Ambassador Wall 
volunteered to work with him on such a trip. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
8.  Minister Ahmad is the President's former diplomatic 
advisor and also a former Ambassador to France.  His 
appointment as Foreign Minister brings to the fore a 
key GOC interlocutor on Darfur and a savvy and well- 
connected diplomat.  We will have more to say about 
possible travel to New York or Washington in other 
communications. 
 
9.  Khartoum minimize considered. 
 
WALL 
 
 
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