MFA Paper Outlines Foreign Policy Objectives

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 KHARTOUM 000850

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV US SU
SUBJECT: MFA Paper Outlines Foreign Policy Objectives

Ref: Khartoum 00823


1. Summary: During the April 1-5 MFA ambassadorial
corps conference (reftel),the ministry circulated a
thought piece on the future of Sudanese foreign policy.
Its key points are as follows: Sudan is entering a new
era following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement, Sudan must thus review its foreign policy.
Under the Interim National Constitution, Sudan's foreign
policy is to stress cooperation, integration, human
rights, dialogue as a means of resolving disputes, non-
interference in the domestic affairs of other states, and
fighting organized crime and terrorism. Sudan's Afro-
Arab character is key to the development of its ties,
which will continue to focus on neighboring states.
While progress has been made with Egypt and Libya,
relations with Ethiopia are sound, while those with Chad
and Eritrea are tense.


2. Relations with the U.S. are at a critical period,
with performance below ambitions. Hence Sudan will
strive to achieve a common understanding on issues.
Sudan will work in particular to develop its relations
with Canada, Brazil, and Argentina; China, India,
Malaysia, and Pakistan; and South Korea, Indonesia, and
Japan. As well, relations with the EU and within the UN
are key. The problem of Darfur needs to be solved, in
part due to its negative effect on international
relations. Finally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will
address the internal issues of compensation, career
tracks, and training. End summary.


3. The text of the paper is as follows (unofficial
Embassy translation):

(Begin text)

REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

THE DELIBERATING CONFERENCE BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS - KHARTOUM, APRIL 1-5, 2006

A PAPER ON FOREIGN POLICY:

Our country is entering into a new phase at the beginning
of implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement;
it is characterized by more openness to all components of
the Sudanese community and it truthfully expresses its
cultural and ethnic diversity.

Definitely, these present facts should be reflected in a
way or another on the State's policies in various
domains. This necessitates a review the shape of the
foreign policy of the country during the transitional
period.

Whereas the principles ruling foreign policy have never
been controversial between the various elements of the
society, this policy will based on the principles that
were stated in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the
Interim National Constitution of the country in addition
to the events of the past quarter century and the laws
that rule jurisdictions and goals of the federal
ministries and other documents pertaining to the nation's
external challenges.

The Interim National Constitution of the Republic of the
Sudan determined seven objectives of the foreign policy
during the transitional period; they can be summarized as
follows:

-- Promotion of international cooperation, consolidating
universal peace, and respect for international law and
fostering a just world economic order.

-- Achievement of African and Arab economic integration
and promotion of African and Arab unity and Afro-Arab
cooperation.

-- Enhancement of respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms in regional and international
forums.

-- Promotion of dialogue among civilizations and
establishment of international order based on justice.

-- Enhancement of economic cooperation among countries of
the South.

-- Non-interference in the affairs of other States,
promotion of good neighborliness and mutual cooperation
with all neighbors, and maintaining amicable and balanced

KHARTOUM 00000850 002 OF 006


relations with other countries.

-- Combating international and transnational organized
crime and terrorism.

For realizing the abovementioned goals, Sudan, like other
states, interacts viably with its regional and
international communities.

Normally, the factors of geography and history rule
Sudan's actions in the domain of foreign policy where its
Afro-Arab affiliation has been one of the most important
basics of our foreign policy.

For realizing our lofty objectives in the desired way and
to allow citizens to reap great benefits, it was
necessary to utilize our resources in the most ideal way
and according to clear priorities for effective action in
various circles of our foreign policy.

Directly neighboring states represent the most important
circle for us because the developments witnessed in these
states are directly reflected in the security and
stability of our country.

Sudan has always been seeking and will be seeking,
Inshallah, in the future to maintain excellent relations
with these states, without any exception, based on good
neighborliness, respect for other peoples' choices, and
realizing mutual interests.

We view development of our relations with most of these
states as satisfactory; we have taken broad strides
toward realizing integration with the sisterly Arab
Republic of Egypt and the Arab Libyan Jamahiryia.

Our cooperation with Ethiopia has greatly advanced; joint
committees have been established at the highest levels to
realize cooperation in all domains.

There is tenseness in our relations with some states,
such as Eritrea and Chad, due to internal problems that
trespassed the international borders.

Certainly, we are seeking to normalize these relations
based on principles of good neighborliness and non-
interference in internal affairs; all exchanged visits
with Eritrea are based on this pattern.

The Tripoli Agreement was concluded with Chad, and
efforts to implement it are ongoing.

The presence of the LRA "Lord's Resistance Army" in
Southern Sudan has negatively our relations with sisterly
Uganda.

We are determined to end it, and we hope that the leaders
of this movement would listen to the voice of reason and
would seek to resolve their problems with the Ugandan
government through dialogue and amicable methods.

The sisterly Arab states have all been a support to Sudan
since its independence in 1956, which we greatly
appreciate.

We commend the Arab League resolution on establishing a
special fund for support of peace in Southern Sudan and
in the war-affected areas. We also appreciate the Arab
states support that has been and is still offered at the
bilateral level.

Sudan will always be close to what is going in the Arab
world. Hence, we follow with deep concern, denouncing
the terror and killing committed against the Palestinian
people. Also, we are observing with concern ongoing
incidents and pray for God to grant stability for this
important Arab country and to bring about peace and
tranquility for its sisterly people.

Sudan has mediated between Syria and Lebanon. The role
of Sudan has been reinforced in its African and Arab
domain by convening the two groups' summits in Khartoum
on January and March of this year.

Our absolute belief in the unity of destiny remains our
guide in all our actions in the continent of Africa. We
will work in the forthcoming era to set our potentials
under the brothers' disposal in Africa for realizing
ambitions of the citizens of the continent in terms of
construction and development. Sudan, after overcoming
the problem of war with its south, will also play a
significant role in regional and semi-regional

KHARTOUM 00000850 003 OF 006


institutions - and we have contributed in establishing
most of them - in realizing development, prosperity, and
sober rule.

We are pleased that some of these organizations have
played an effective role in realizing peace in our
country; they include the IGAD, Arab League, and the
African Union, the last of which we welcome for the great
role played by its peace mission in Darfur.

From our side, we will keep on providing all possible
support to the AU Mission to perform its role.

Sudan has stood against all attempts for belittling the
AU's role and transferring the peace process in Darfur to
the UN.

The conference will discuss a number of issues related to
our relations with African states. There will be a
special session on relations with neighboring states, the
AU role, and the map of diplomatic representation in the
continent.

The relations with the United States and the European
states represent one of our utmost concerns to benefit
from the economic and political weights of this group and
seeking to realize objectives of our foreign policy.

Our relations with the United States have witnessed a
critical period during the past few years. Although the
progress achieved in this domain is still below our
ambitions, the upcoming period will witness constant
efforts from our side to reach common understanding with
the American Government on the most ideal means for
handling points of American concerns related to the
internal developments in Sudan, regional stability, and
combating terrorism.

We will also endeavor toward developing our relations
with other important States in the two continents of
North and South America, such as Canada, Brazil, and
Argentina.

Sudan's peace process involved an introduction of
European states to Sudan again after a several-year
boycott.

Signing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement led to
remarkable enhancement in Sudanese-European relations in
spite of the complexities caused by the Darfur crisis.

We will continue our dialogue with the European Union and
its states toward completion of our efforts for restoring
the frozen rights of Sudan in the Lome and Cotonou
Agreements, resumption of development aid, and work for
writing off debt.

Our relations with the Asian states are flourishing; this
has been evidently reflected in rise of the size of Asian
investments from states such as China, India, Malaysia,
and Pakistan, particularly in the domain of oil
production.

The volume of trade exchanges has also risen with states
such as South Korea and Indonesia, while our relations
with Japan witnesses promising developments; last year
several Japanese delegations visited the country and
discussed issues of economic cooperation.

Moreover, we have commenced important contacts with the
Japanese government for handling Sudan's debt.

Developing relations with the Asian states would be one
of our concerns in the transitional period, particularly
that these states presently occupy high position in the
world economy.

Implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement "CPA"
is considered the first duty of the Government of
National Unity during the transitional period. Hence,
performing the duties linked to the implementation of the
peace agreement toward relationships with the external
word represents a top priority in our move with the
United Nations and the international community as a
whole.

The United Nations Mission in Sudan is considered at the
top of the circles we are dealing with in this regard; we
particularly work to reactivate the national mechanism
for dealing with the mission after we signed an agreement
on the status of forces (SOFA) that rules the
relationship between the government and the mission.

KHARTOUM 00000850 004 OF 006



Sudan has good heritage in cooperation with the
international community in the domain of humanitarian
affairs. Our dealing with the voluntary organizations
and the UN operating in this domain in Darfur will be
objective. We will also work with the international
community under circumstances characterized by the
obvious shrinkage in size of humanitarian assistance;
this is to guarantee the provision of the required relief
commodities, particularly in Southern Sudan due to the
voluntary repatriation of refugees and displaced persons
in light of the implementation of the peace agreement and
the transition from the relief phase into the phase of
development and rehabilitation.

Last year, the United Nations celebrated its sixtieth
anniversary. Recently, some important issues regarding
the role of the UN in the future and reconsideration of
its structures to become more democratic and broadly
representative have come about.

Sudan has worked through the African and Arab groups to
present projects for reform of the UN to fit the role
that developing states should play. These developing
states have succeeded on the issue of the UN General
Assembly resolution on establishing the International
Council for Human Rights; geographical representation
will be fair in it and its work will be kept away from
selectivity and political purposes.

Our efforts will continue in coordination with the
developing states for completion of the reform process in
the United Nations, particularly in expanding the
Security Council in a way that guarantees just
representation of Third World states.

In seeking to develop our relations with the
international community, we will exert our utmost efforts
for cooperation with the Security Council to implement
its resolutions regarding our country, particularly
Resolutions No. 1590 and 1591 in a way that would not
harm our sovereignty. We will double our communications
with the international financial institutions for
handling the debt issue and will continue our efforts for
joining the World Trade Organization.

Our country is entering into a new political phase;
during this phase we will promote values of human rights,
transparency, and general freedoms. Hence, we, in the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the
concerned authorities, will crystallize a positive
official position toward Sudan's ratification of the
international agreements in the domain of human rights.
This will open the door widely for international
cooperation and benefits from technical and economic
assistance.

Pursuant to the Interim National Constitution provisions,
we hope to move from the position of defense to the
position of positive work with the international
community to elevate values of human rights,
transparency, and democracy.

Thus, our delegations participant in international
conferences and forums will be directed to work for this
goal.

Probably one of the top priorities in the duties of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs at all times is the concern
of Sudanese communities abroad, welfare of their
individuals' interests, and working to link them to the
important developments in their country.

Today, the reasons that led to alienation between people
of Sudan abroad and their country in the past are over
now. During the transitional period, we will give more
attention to issues involving the category of these
citizens in light of the promises made by the state to
facilitate their stay abroad and their return back home.

One of the essential issues that the Ministry will
undertake in this domain is to contribute to the
refugees' voluntary repatriation from neighboring states
after the realization of peace.

Moreover, we have taken some steps to facilitate the
process of aliens' entry into the country. This is after
the approval of a constitutional that is characterized by
political and economic openness and in light of our
expectations of foreign investors' inflow in to the
country.


KHARTOUM 00000850 005 OF 006


The Darfur issue remains a worry to us in dealing with
the international community; this crisis has been an
introduction for attack against Sudan and distortion of
its image abroad.

Despite the great efforts the government has exerted in
this regard, not finding a final solution for the problem
would greatly weaken our position in the international
arena, particularly since the UN and the international
community are closely observing what is going in Darfur.

Although any positive signs in the UN Secretary General's
reports to the Security Council basically depend on
developments on the ground, a heavy task is borne by the
Foreign Ministry in changing the distorted image about
the country.

From our side, we will work to exploit every opportunity
to penetrate the international community. But this
undoubtedly requires precise coordination with the other
circles in the National Unity Government to guarantee
absolute harmony between the external movement and the
internal movement.

Sudanese diplomacy has succeeded in persuading the
African Union not to transfer its duties in Darfur to the
United Nations except upon the approval of the Government
of Sudan and after reaching a peace agreement. We have
to bear a heavy burden in the Ministry to confront the
campaign led by some influential states to place Darfur
under the international forces' authority.

Enhancement of the image of Sudan abroad, which has been
affected by the abovementioned disturbed situation in the
country, whether it is the war in the south or in Darfur,
needs redoubled media efforts.

Even though the greatest part of the burden in this
domain should be borne by other circles in the National
Unity Government, the Foreign Ministry undertakes a great
role; this is based on the widespread nature of its
diplomatic missions abroad.

For achieving this significant role, we have to endeavor
to focus on the weight of media areas abroad; this would
enable us to transmit our message appropriately.

As we will also work to open channels for dealing with
the widespread Arab and foreign mass media and with the
world international news agencies and their resident
correspondents in Khartoum. This effort needs a high
degree of coordination to ensure that the accurate media
message has reached the objective it targets.

Based on its jurisdictions in the domain of Sudan's
external relations, the Ministry undertakes the duty of
coordination and follow-up vertically with the Presidency
of the Republic, Council of Ministers, and the two
Legislative Councils - the National Assembly and the
Council of States; and horizontally with the Ministries,
institutions, corporations, and concerned organs on
relevant issues, external dimension within the framework
of bilateral relations with the world states,
international and regional cooperation, and world issues
with the other concerned specialized international and
regional organizations.

All these are carried on by the communications conducted
by the leadership of the Ministry, its expert departments
and our missions abroad.

Due to the upcoming period, which is full of challenges
from various directions, we, from our side, will work to
coordinate precisely with the government circles to
guarantee appropriate implementation of foreign policy.

Our conference will convene a special session for this
matter, and we hope it would find the solutions for all
the problems we are facing in this regard.

We would not be able to achieve our ambitious goals in
the domain of external work during the transitional
period but through the provision of a supportive and
satisfactory work environment. This would encourage the
workers at the Ministry to perform their duties
enthusiastically and to exert their utmost efforts.

Of course, improvement of the work environment can come
about by confronting the administrative problems from
which the Ministry suffers. The administrative
distortions in the job structures within the Ministry's
bureaus is the most important. This will be addressed by

KHARTOUM 00000850 006 OF 006


reviewing the present structure, preparing new job
structures, and employing intermediate and higher-level
diplomatic cadres in accordance with the restrictions and
conditions in force and in compliance with the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

The salary scale will also be handled with great concern
to find a radical treatment, as it is extremely weak.
This would reassure and provide a sense of stability
among employees.

For addressing the requirements of the application of the
federal system, the Ministry has taken concrete steps
toward opening sub-offices in Juba, El Fasher, and Port
Sudan to regulate the foreign diplomatic presence in
these areas and to offer advice and consultation to the
state governments in regard to dealing with the foreign
presence.

Perhaps one of the most important sides for correcting
the work environment is through exerting effort to
provide training to all workers in the Ministry, whether
diplomats or not.

During the past few years, the Ministry has been able to
double the amount of opportunities for external training
of diplomats in collaboration with several states in
various parts of the world. The Ministry has also given
attention to internal training; during the transitional
period, we will work to double the training opportunities
to include all workers in the Ministry. In this regard,
we will review missions and methods of the National
Diplomatic Center to conduct internal training.

We will also give more concern to the social aspects of
employees, such as health insurance and collective
transportation.

We will inaugurate some social facilities and lay the
foundation for others, such as a school and a sports
compound.

In seeking promotion of work auxiliaries, we will
implement important projects. This has started with
expansion in the Ministry's premises, as well as the
provision of equipment and essential furniture for the
workers' comfort.

As we are also seeking at the same time to realize the
objective of establishing an electronic government that
is supported by the highest authorities in the country.

We will work to modernize the means of communications
that link the headquarters with missions abroad and to
establish a comprehensive database for facilities and
embassies.

We seek to make advancements with respect to the
information revolution to benefit from the tremendous
potentials available to upgrade the effectiveness of
Sudanese diplomacy.

The concepts stated in this paper affirm that Sudan's
relations with the international community have greatly
ramified and covered many fields at bilateral, regional,
and international levels.

Fortunately, we are approaching a new era that comes at
the end of the war with the South that is full of
indications of soon reaching resolution of all other
problems of Sudan. This would assist in releasing the
country from the fetters that have been chaining it for
many years.

We are optimistic that the forthcoming years would
witness a genuine explosion of energies of which the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to realize the state's goals
in citizens' development and prosperity.

(End text)

STEINFELD