(C) SUDAN: UK AWAITS EU ENVOY'S REPORT ON EASTERN TALKS

CONFIDENTIAL C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 007080 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/SPG, AF/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2016 TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PINS, KDEM, SU, ER, UK SUBJECT: (C) SUDAN: UK AWAITS EU ENVOY'S REPORT ON EASTERN TALKS REF: STATE 164613 Classified By: PolMinCouns Maura Connelly; reason 1.4 (b, d) (C) The UK is awaiting EU envoy Pekka Haavisto's report from Asmara before crystallizing its own position on the negotiations between the Government of Sudan and the Eastern Front. In response to reftel demarche, Paul Norris of the FCO-DFID Sudan Unit told Poloff October 2 that Haavisto was in Asmara at that very moment and was expected to report shortly. The UK was also hoping to see the text of the agreement that is supposedly being readied for signature next week: failure to support a good agreement would be a missed opportunity, and support for a bad agreement could do lasting harm. Visit London's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm Tuttle