MFA U/S, CDA DISCUSS NCP VISIT TO U.S., NAFIE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 001116 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF S/E NATSIOS, AND AF/SPG NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2012 TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO UN AU SU SUBJECT: MFA U/S, CDA DISCUSS NCP VISIT TO U.S., NAFIE REMARKS ON COUP, AMIS CAMP EXPANSION REF: A. KHARTOUM 01109 ¶B. STATE 98138 Classified By: CDA A. Fernandez, Reason: Sections 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- US Open to GoS Visit -------------- ¶1. (C) In a July 18 meeting with Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Mutriff Siddiq, CDA Fernandez said that the U.S. would welcome the visit of Sudanese officials to Washington in the near future to discuss a "range of issues." This question had been raised by the Government with S/E Natsios during his recent visit. Recommending that the visit occur in the near future, the CDA suggested that Siddiq and Presidential Advisor Mustafa Osman Ismail might be the most effective representatives of the National Congress Party (NCP). Siddiq said he would discuss the visit with his government, emphasizing that Sudan should send "someone who can take decisions" and speaks directly to President Bashir. He added that Special Envoy Natsios' remarks at the recent summit in Tripoli were "well-received" and could facilitate a productive atmosphere for bilateral discussions. According to Siddiq, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Samani Al Wasila, who had headed the Sudanese delegation in Tripoli, had briefed Bashir on the summit and had characterized S/E Natsios' remarks as "constructive." "We're trying not to close doors," said Siddiq, who noted that the bilateral atmosphere seemed somewhat improved from a month ago. -------------- NCP Denies Nafie Statement on Coup -------------- ¶2. (C) Siddiq mildly criticized the U.S. Embassy's July 16 statement denying remarks attributed to Presidential Assistant Nafie Ali Nafie by Al Jazeera that had implicated the USG in an alleged coup plot (Ref. A). According to Siddiq, it was "inappropriate" for the U.S. to have responded to a comment that Nafie had not made and to state that it had distracted from the real challenges facing Sudan. CDA Fernandez emphasized that the statement was meant as a clarification of U.S. policy and that we appreciated Presidential Advisor Ismail clarifying "no foreign connection" had been found to the alleged plot. (Note: The NCP issued a statement on July 17 denying that Nafie had fingered the U.S. and reiterating that the coup was not linked to a foreign governments. The NCP had also blamed Al Jazeera for falsifying the statement. Al Jazeera responded on July 18 that Nafie's "quote was well-sourced and verified." This is one of those rare situations where we side with Al Jazeera. End note.) -------------- Sudan Should Facilitate AMIS Camp Expansion -------------- ¶3. (C) CDA Fernandez outlined plans to finance the expansion of African Union (AU) facilities in El Fasher in preparation for the deployment of an additional two battalions of the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) as soon as possible in support of the Heavy Support Package (Ref. B). He said that the Sudanese Government had an opportunity to demonstrate its sincere acceptance of the UN/AU hybrid peace-keeping force by facilitating the administrative procedures, such as land lease arrangements and water surveys, that were necessary for the camp expansions. Siddiq said that the AU had not yet approached the Government on the expansion issue but that Sudan was prepared to be helpful. FERNANDEZ