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