Sudan: Pres. Bashir Seeks Continued Role in Somali Talks,

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000095 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KPKO MASS SO SU SUBJECT: Sudan: Pres. Bashir Seeks Continued Role in Somali Talks, Offers Army, Police Training Ref: A) 06 Khartoum 02140, b) 06 Khartoum 01477 ¶1. (U) President Bashir stated that Sudan continues to support Somalia, seeks to continue hosting talks among Somali parties, and offers training for Somali army and police units. His remarks, made during the January 20-22 visit to Khartoum of Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Gedi, also pledged support to Somalia in education, services and capacity building, as well as the re-opening of the Sudanese embassy in Mogadishu. (Note: Somalia retains a small mission in Khartoum, staffed by a Charge d'Affaires who represents the Transitional Federal Government. End note.) ¶2. (U) The same account, from the Sudan News Agency, states that State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Karti said that the Somali government had requested that Sudan send forces to train the Somali army, police, and security forces, as well as the civil administration. He said that any foreign forces that arrive in Somalia will be targeted by the opposition and those who seek instability. Ali Karti also said that the Somali government had agreed for Sudan to continue its mediation role in the resumption of the Somali talks (reftels). ¶3. (U) According to a translation of a broadcast of Omdurman Sudan Television in Arabic on January 21, National Assembly Speaker Ahmad Ibrahim al-Tahir appealed to Arab League states and countries in the region to support efforts to restore stability to Somalia. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: Sudan clearly relished its role as host and facilitator for three rounds of Somali talks over the past year in its capacity as Arab League Chair. President Bashir's interest in continued dealings with Somali issues may reflect his interest in gaining the African Union Chairmanship at the January 29-30 Summit in Addis Ababa, a prize that eluded his grasp during the January 2006 AU Summit in Khartoum. End comment. HUME