Darfur: Pres. Bashir Reiterates Rejection of UN

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000181

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO US SU
SUBJECT: Darfur: Pres. Bashir Reiterates Rejection of UN
Peacekeeping Operation; Denies Chinese Pressure

Ref: Khartoum 00171


1. (U) During a February 5 address at the National Records Authority
in Khartoum, President Bashir clearly reiterated Sudan's opposition
to a UN peacekeeping operation in Darfur, stating that the Sudanese
were the children and grandchildren of those revolutionaries who
killed Major General Charles Gordon and that Sudan would not hand
over itself to the greedy. The account, carried by Omdurman Sudan
Television, the Sudan News Agency, Al-Jazirah, and Al-Sahafah, an
Arabic daily, cited Bashir as stating, "International troops were
not and will never be deployed in Darfur. The African troop mandate
in the region will never be changed into a UN one." He added, in
reference to the U.S. and the UK, that "If you want to invade our
country, then come, we will teach you a lesson you will never
forget."


2. (U) In a February 5 interview with Al-Sudani, an Arabic daily,
President Bashir denied that the recent visit by Chinese President
Hu to Khartoum (reftel) had carried any demands from the U.S.
regarding Darfur. He said rather that the Chinese demand was
limited to Sudan's moving forward in the enforcement of the Abuja
Agreement and improving the situation on the ground. Bashir said
President Hu reiterated China's commitment to providing full support
to Sudan in implementing its declared program in Darfur. Bashir
expressed surprise at suggestions that the Chinese president carried
U.S. demands to Khartoum on the issue of international forces, and
said that China had not served as a conduit for U.S. pressure on
Sudan. He added that President Hu was more concerned with listening
to Sudan's vision of dealing with the crisis, and that he had
responded positively to Sudan's explanation regarding all aspects of
the situation in Darfur.


3. (U) President Bashir's remarks were echoed on January 31 in El
Fasher, Darfur, by Assistant to the President Nafie Ali Nafie, who
told a rally that the Sudanese government rejected foreign
interference in Darfur. The account, carried by Omdurman Sudan
Television, was similar to that of Al-Rai Al-Aam, an Arabic daily,
which stated that Nafie confirmed the government's refusal to permit
the deployment of hybrid or joint forces in Darfur. Nafie
criticized unnamed neighboring countries, calling on them not to
participate in plots against Sudan or to become a "cat's paw" for
its colonization.

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