REV. GRAHAM'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT BASHIR

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000215 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF A/S FRAZER, AF S/E NATSIOS AND AF/SPG NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM SU US SUBJECT: REV. GRAHAM'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT BASHIR Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Sections 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Rev Franklin Graham, founder and CEO of Samaritan,s Purse (SP),met with President Bashir on February 12, after visiting South Darfur and Southern Sudan. The Sudanese government excluded former Senator Bill Frist, who is traveling as a guest of SP, from the meeting. Graham characterized the meeting as friendly and Bashir as warm and gracious. Graham thanked Bashir for the progress made since he last met with Bashir three years ago, notably the steps taken to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), but noted ongoing concern with the humanitarian situation in Darfur. Graham emphasized that he was in Khartoum as a friend of Sudan, as a minister, and as a humanitarian -- not as a politician or government official. ¶2. (C) Graham raised the following points on behalf of the Christian community in Khartoum, after discussions with local pastors and church leaders: permits for land to build new churches (officially sanctioned since the CPA but still not implemented in practice); diplomas of graduates of Christian schools are not recognized by the Government; Christian children in public schools who are taught an Islamic curriculum should have a secular curriculum; and the Christian community does not have access to broadcast on television and radio. ¶3. (C) Graham also requested the following actions from the Sudanese government on behalf of SP: access to Hamesh Khoreib for SP to continue humanitarian operations that have been interrupted since the signing of the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement and the closure of cross-border access from Eritrea; permission as a non-governmental organization (NGO) to engage with churches in the North (religious activities are outlawed by the current NGO law); opportunity to buy television time to air a Christian television special at Christmas; and a contribution from the Sudanese government of 15 million dollars to SP to help rebuild churches in Southern Sudan destroyed during the war. SP has documented over 500 destroyed churches in Southern Sudan west of the Nile, and has plans to catalogue all destroyed churches east of the Nile. It plans to rebuild all destroyed churches with private funds raised in the U.S., but would like to have a contribution from the government as a message of reconciliation and restitution to the south. Bashir responded positively to all issues raised and said he would discuss the 15 million dollar request with the Minister of Finance. ¶4. (C) Bashir emphasized that he is afraid that Sudan will be divided like Yugoslavia and took great pains to reiterate his concern for the unity of the country, stating that "separation will be catastrophic for the North and the South." While acknowledging the right of Southern Sudan to vote for secession and recognizing Graham's ties to the South and position of influence in the U.S., Bashir asked for Graham's support in promoting unity for the country. Bashir raised the issue of economic sanctions and State Sponsors of Terrorism list designation with Graham, stating that "my main problem is the United States." Graham noted the importance of bringing peace to Darfur and expressed his support for improved relations between the two countries. The meeting ended on a cordial note, with Bashir inviting Graham to return to Sudan and visit or call him as often as he liked. ¶5. (C) Comment: Graham and Frist indicated they would both discuss their visit with POTUS, and the latter would meet with Secretary Rice upon his return. Graham came away from the meeting with the sense that Bashir thinks he can change opinion in the United States about Sudan. While he received positive responses to the issues he raised, Graham also understood that words do not always translate into action. His intent in seeing the President was to highlight the issues of the Christian community in Sudan and to explain why the American people and Christians in the United States care about Darfur. End comment HUME