FOREIGN MINISTER ON SUDAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000402 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR NEA, AF E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2017 TAGS: PREL BA SU ROW SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER ON SUDAN Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (C) The Ambassador, in an April 30 meeting with Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, noted that Sudanese Minister of State Abdul Rahman Abaker had visited Bahrain the previous day and asked what message he had brought. Shaikh Khalid said he had no information on the visit of Abaker, who met with Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, but mentioned that former Foreign Minister Mustafa Ismail would visit Bahrain at the end of the week, when Shaikh Khalid will be in Sharm Al Shaikh for the Iraq Compact and Neighbors conferences. The Ambassador emphasized that the United States was running out of patience with Sudan, which makes agreements on Darfur but does not implement them. President Bush has indicated that Sudan must take concrete steps or else we will take additional measures to increase the pressure, and we hope that Bahrain will help reinforce our message. Shaikh Khalid said that Bahrain's message to the visiting Sudanese officials is consistent: they must reach agreements and honor their commitments. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE