Date: 04/07/2006
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
Title: A Pahad: Notes Following Briefing on International Issues


  Notes following briefing by Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad on International issues

Sudan

1. I briefed you last week regarding the blue-hatting of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS).
2. With regard to this matter, Secretary-General Kofi Annan had extensive discussions with Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir on the fringes of the African Union (AU) Summit in Banjul. As you know, the Secretary-General has said that “Darfur is one of the worst nightmares to be experienced in the modern world.”
3. According to a Peace and Security Council decision, the mandate of AMIS would expire at the end of September 2006 because of a lack of adequate resources.
4. However, the Secretary-General has requested flexibility from the African Union leaders in this regard, since there has been no agreement by the Sudanese government on the transfer of the AMIS force to a UN force and as you know, a UN force cannot operate in a country until there is agreement from the leadership of that country.
5. The Secretary-General who has already had extensive discussions with President Bashir on this matter will continue to discuss it with him to get his agreement.
6. The Secretary-General will receive a plan for Darfur from President Bashir for the next six months within three weeks.
7. The Secretary-General has also mentioned there will be a pledging conference in Brussels on the 18 July 2006 where he hopes resources will be pledged to enable AMIS to continue its mission for longer, i.e. December when the UN will be able to take over if the Sudanese government agrees.
8. Former President and Chair of the African Union Commission Alpha Konare has again urged the parties who signed the 5 May 2006 agreement to implement this agreement and urged those who have not signed to do so.
9. We continue to support the blue-hatting of the AMIS and hope an agreement in this regard will be reached soon.

Zimbabwe

1. Last week we discussed the possibility of a meeting between President Mugabe and the UN Secretary-General on the fringes of the African Union Summit. As you know, this meeting has now taken place.
2. The Secretary-General has announced that former President Benjamin Mkapa will, in consultation with Southern African Development Community (SADC), continue to mediate for a political solution in Zimbabwe.
3. The Secretary-General has said there is no need for two facilitators to this situation.

4. The Secretary-General has also asked for time and space to allow former President Mkapa to do his work.
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