Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KHARTOUM1822
2007-11-21 11:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:
CONCILIATORY AL-BASHIR ALL SWEETNESS AND LIGHT AT
how-toVZCZCXRO2334 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDU RUEHKUK RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHTRO DE RUEHKH #1822 3251147 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 211147Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9247 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 001822
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF/SPG, SE NATSIOS,
NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI UN AU SU
SUBJECT: CONCILIATORY AL-BASHIR ALL SWEETNESS AND LIGHT AT
PART CONGRESS
REF: A. KHARTOUM 1808
B. KHARTOUM 1796
Classified By: CDA Alberto M. Fernandez, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 001822
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF/SPG, SE NATSIOS,
NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI UN AU SU
SUBJECT: CONCILIATORY AL-BASHIR ALL SWEETNESS AND LIGHT AT
PART CONGRESS
REF: A. KHARTOUM 1808
B. KHARTOUM 1796
Classified By: CDA Alberto M. Fernandez, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) Less than five days after a warmongering speech to
militia forces (reftel b),a more statesman-like President
Al-Bashir called for peace, national unity and democracy in
an address to party faithful at the National Congress Party
(NCP) Annual General Assembly on November 21. A full house
of party cadres, senior officials, church and Sufi leaders,
and opposition political party reps heard multiple cries of
"God is great!" and other Islamic slogans, but the NCP was in
an ecumenical mood with a few calls in Arabic of "Jesus Give
Me Strength! Hallelujah!" (including at least once by
smirking party hardliner Dr. Nafie Ali Nafie).
2. (SBU) In addition to the diplomatic corps, foreign
solidarity was on display with like-minded representatives
from the Syrian Arab Ba'ath Party (Abdullah al-Ahmar),the
Chinese Communist Party, and Islamist leaders from
Pakistan,Iran, Somalia and Malaysia. Making a dramatic final
moment entry before the President's remarks was a high level
team from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM),the
NCP's partner, rival and current opponent in the cabinet
crisis which erupted on October 11. SPLM Deputy SGs Malik
Agar, Yassir Arman (a Northern Arab Muslim, distant relative
of the President, former communist and one of the SPLM
leaders most disliked by Al-Bashir),and former Minister Kuol
Manyang had just arrived from Juba and took prominent seats
in the audience facing the President.
3. (U) Under a banner of "peace, unity and renewal," and
repeatedly referring to "our partners in the SPLM" the
President outlined a democratic and populist vision of
Sudan's future. Al-Bashir said that the NCP is working to
abolish regionalism and sectarianism and is the "melting pot"
of all of Sudan's tribes. He is committed to sparing the
Sudanese people's blood and "our primary goal is to never go
back to war ever again." He called on the SPLM to exercise
"responsible and active political partnership," adding that
only way towards real peace and security is through political
participation. That is why the NCP has chosen dialogue as its
methodology and been able to achieve three major peace
agreements (the CPA, the Darfur Peace Agreement, and the
Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement),agreements that are being
implemented. Al-Bashir added that the NCP is very keen, more
than any other party, to hold fair and transparent elections
and that the biggest challenge in Sudan is achieving social
peace and balanced development in the country, especially in
rural areas.
4. (U) Al-Bashir also called for a greater role for Sudan's
women and expanding women's access to education. He said that
Sudan's foreign policy is committed to international peace
and security and good relationships with all, especially
neighboring countries. He added that Sudan fully supports the
UN/AU efforts, coupled eith that of neighboring and friendly
countries, to bring peace to Darfur through political
negotiations. He noted that "peace is our choice, the NCP
wants peace and stability so that we can develop our country."
5. (C) Comment: Less than a week from his ill-considered
"jihad" speech to the notorious Popular Defense Forces (PDF),
a speech even Al-Jazeera considered provocative (reftel b)
and following Salva Kiir's moderate and upbeat speech
yesterday in Juba (reftel a),Al-Bashir decided to take the
high road. There was nothing of great substance in the
remarks except for a hopeful emphasis on peace and on
maintaining and improving the Government of National Unity
partnership with the SPLM. Not much to go on, but compared to
the escalating rhetoric and war talk of the past few days, a
welcome respite as both sides evaluate their next moves in
the high-stake political chess game which is Sudanese power
politics. End comment.
FERNANDEZ
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF/SPG, SE NATSIOS,
NSC FOR PITTMAN AND HUDSON
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI UN AU SU
SUBJECT: CONCILIATORY AL-BASHIR ALL SWEETNESS AND LIGHT AT
PART CONGRESS
REF: A. KHARTOUM 1808
B. KHARTOUM 1796
Classified By: CDA Alberto M. Fernandez, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (SBU) Less than five days after a warmongering speech to
militia forces (reftel b),a more statesman-like President
Al-Bashir called for peace, national unity and democracy in
an address to party faithful at the National Congress Party
(NCP) Annual General Assembly on November 21. A full house
of party cadres, senior officials, church and Sufi leaders,
and opposition political party reps heard multiple cries of
"God is great!" and other Islamic slogans, but the NCP was in
an ecumenical mood with a few calls in Arabic of "Jesus Give
Me Strength! Hallelujah!" (including at least once by
smirking party hardliner Dr. Nafie Ali Nafie).
2. (SBU) In addition to the diplomatic corps, foreign
solidarity was on display with like-minded representatives
from the Syrian Arab Ba'ath Party (Abdullah al-Ahmar),the
Chinese Communist Party, and Islamist leaders from
Pakistan,Iran, Somalia and Malaysia. Making a dramatic final
moment entry before the President's remarks was a high level
team from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM),the
NCP's partner, rival and current opponent in the cabinet
crisis which erupted on October 11. SPLM Deputy SGs Malik
Agar, Yassir Arman (a Northern Arab Muslim, distant relative
of the President, former communist and one of the SPLM
leaders most disliked by Al-Bashir),and former Minister Kuol
Manyang had just arrived from Juba and took prominent seats
in the audience facing the President.
3. (U) Under a banner of "peace, unity and renewal," and
repeatedly referring to "our partners in the SPLM" the
President outlined a democratic and populist vision of
Sudan's future. Al-Bashir said that the NCP is working to
abolish regionalism and sectarianism and is the "melting pot"
of all of Sudan's tribes. He is committed to sparing the
Sudanese people's blood and "our primary goal is to never go
back to war ever again." He called on the SPLM to exercise
"responsible and active political partnership," adding that
only way towards real peace and security is through political
participation. That is why the NCP has chosen dialogue as its
methodology and been able to achieve three major peace
agreements (the CPA, the Darfur Peace Agreement, and the
Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement),agreements that are being
implemented. Al-Bashir added that the NCP is very keen, more
than any other party, to hold fair and transparent elections
and that the biggest challenge in Sudan is achieving social
peace and balanced development in the country, especially in
rural areas.
4. (U) Al-Bashir also called for a greater role for Sudan's
women and expanding women's access to education. He said that
Sudan's foreign policy is committed to international peace
and security and good relationships with all, especially
neighboring countries. He added that Sudan fully supports the
UN/AU efforts, coupled eith that of neighboring and friendly
countries, to bring peace to Darfur through political
negotiations. He noted that "peace is our choice, the NCP
wants peace and stability so that we can develop our country."
5. (C) Comment: Less than a week from his ill-considered
"jihad" speech to the notorious Popular Defense Forces (PDF),
a speech even Al-Jazeera considered provocative (reftel b)
and following Salva Kiir's moderate and upbeat speech
yesterday in Juba (reftel a),Al-Bashir decided to take the
high road. There was nothing of great substance in the
remarks except for a hopeful emphasis on peace and on
maintaining and improving the Government of National Unity
partnership with the SPLM. Not much to go on, but compared to
the escalating rhetoric and war talk of the past few days, a
welcome respite as both sides evaluate their next moves in
the high-stake political chess game which is Sudanese power
politics. End comment.
FERNANDEZ