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