MUBARAK MAKES LIGHTENING VISIT TO KHARTOUM

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000829 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR D AND AF/SPG E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV SU EG SUBJECT: MUBARAK MAKES LIGHTENING VISIT TO KHARTOUM REF: CAIRO 1911 Classified By: Charge Andrew Steinfeld for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Having skipped last week's Arab League summit, President Mubarak made an unannounced two and one half hour visit to Khartoum midday today, April 4. (The brief and surprise nature of the visit no doubt due to Egyptian security concerns -- reftel.) The Egyptian Ambassador Abdel Moneim al-Shazali provided Charge with the following readout: -- There was one meeting only -- with Bashir. -- Bashir briefed on the Arab League summit's accomplishments. -- Mubarak re-emphasized GOE positions as were stated at last week's summit meeting. -- The bilateral today was very friendly; points of view on all issues are similar. ¶2. (C) Charge noted that Darfur and UN rehatting were clearly at the top of the U.S. agenda, and asked whether these had been discussed. Egyptian Ambassador replied "not in particular." Rather, both sides stressed the necessity of reaching a political solution to Darfur as soon as possible. Each avenue for reaching closure needs to be pursued. When asked again about rehatting, al-Shazali answered that there was "no need for crossing those bridges before it is necessary." STEINFELD