Presidential Call Makes Local News

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001035 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL US SU SUBJECT: Presidential Call Makes Local News ¶1. On May 2, the Sudanese News Agency, a government news service, posted the following account: (Begin text) U.S. President George Bush telephoned Monday night the President of the Republic Field Marshal Omer Al-Bashir. The two Presidents discussed, through the telephone contact, Darfur issue and the importance of realizing peace and signing an agreement to end the war. President Bush affirmed his country concern with Darfur issue and that the American Administration has sent the Deputy Secretary of State, Robert Zoellik, to Abuja. On his SIPDIS part, President Al-Bashir asserted to President Bush the commitment of the government of national unity and its keenness to reach to a peace agreement which leads to realize stability in Darfur, pointing out that he has sent the Vice-President, Ali Osaman Mohamed Taha, to Abuja to follow up and expedite the negotiations. (End text) ¶2. Comment: No accounts have so far appeared in the local print media regarding this matter. End comment. STEINFELD