LETTER FROM SUDAN'S PRESIDENT BASHIR TO PRESIDENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000456 E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/16 TAGS: PREL OPDC SU SUBJECT: LETTER FROM SUDAN'S PRESIDENT BASHIR TO PRESIDENT BUSH Classified By: DCM ANDREW STEINFELD FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) (D) ¶1. (C) Sudan's President Bashir passed to Charge Hume the following letter to President Bush on Feburary 22 in Khartoum. Original will be pouched to AF/SPG. Septel will report on the meeting. Begin Text: Honorable Mr. President, I have the pleasure to write to you in line with the importance that my Government attaches to healthy and cooperative relations with the United States of America, and the necessity that we work together to address all issues of mutual concern. My Government appreciates very much the positive role of the United States in achieving peace in the Sudan. It was a blessing that our mutual efforts have successful results and the long civil war between the North and the South came to an end. Unfortunately the eruption of the conflict in Darfur has denied our people rejoice and celebration of the peace that both of us have worked hard to attain. You might agree with me, Mr. President, that the Comprehensive Peace remains incomplete unless the conflict in Darfur is urgently resolved where we look for a fair settlement guided by the framework of the CPA, encompassing the ambitions of the people in all other regions of the Sudan and maintaining the balance of our society to close door in front of any future conflict. To that effect, and citing the previous successful experience of working together to resolve the war problem in the South, I suggest, Mr. President, that we work together in a new partnership for peace that will put an end to the conflict in Darfur. I look forward, Mr. President to hear that you bless my suggestion whereby our relevant institutions can embark on an urgent coordination and work out the needed detailed plans. While I am expressing our readiness to work jointly and expediently with your Administration to find an everlasting solution to Darfur conflict, I would like to take this opportunity to convey to you our objection to the plans aiming at the transition of African Union's Mission in Darfur to the UN. In our opinion, this matter is going to worsen the situation on the ground in Darfur and in the whole of Sudan and send wrong signals to the rebel negotiators in Abuja peace talks; thus making them more intransigent in their positions and further delaying the peace process. Please accept, Honorable President, the assurances of my highest consideration. Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir President of the Sudan End text. HUME