FM LAM AKOL: U.S. SHOULD WORK WITH GNU TO IMPROVE

S E C R E T USUN NEW YORK 000830

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2107
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: FM LAM AKOL: U.S. SHOULD WORK WITH GNU TO IMPROVE
BILATERAL RELATIONS

Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for Reasons 1.4 B/D.


1. (C) SUMMARY: Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol told AMB
Khalilzad in an October 2 tte--tte that the U.S. should
work with the Government of National Unity on a set of
specific steps to improve U.S.-Sudan bilateral relations. FM
Akol argued that Khartoum's ability to implement the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement is linked to the unfolding of
U.S. policy on Darfur. FM Akol criticized what he viewed as
U.S. efforts to encourage dissent within the Sudan People's
Liberation Movement (SPLM) and argued that the interests of
southern Sudanese are better served by the GNU than any of
the most likely alternatives. END SUMMARY.

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GNU Wants Specific Steps to
Improve U.S.- Sudan Relations
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2. (C) FM Lam Akol told AMB Khalilzad in a October 3 meeting
that despite substantial progress on implementation of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the Government of
National Unity's (GNU) commitment to the full implementation
of UNSCR 1769, the U.S. remained hostile to the Sudan. Akol
cited the Sudan's continued listing as a state sponsor of
terror and bilateral U.S. sanctions regimes as examples of
American intransigence and hostility. Akol argued that the
refusal of the U.S. to engage in substantive discussions on
improving U.S.-Sudan relations has limited the GNU's ability
to move forward with CPA implementation. Akol said Sudan is
sincerely interested in improving bilateral relations and
urged the Washington to engage with the GNU on creating a set
of "specific, reciprocal steps" that would lead to improved
bilateral relations.

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Don't Forget the South
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3. (C) Akol said U.S. should be careful not to neglect the
interests of Southern Sudan or send any messages that might
encourage partition. Akol criticized what he described as
"mixed messaging" coming from the U.S. on Sudanese national
unity. The GNU leadership in Khartoum perceived a U.S.
desire to "fragment" North and South Sudan. Without enhanced
diplomatic engagement and support for CPA implementation, the
likely result of the 2011 referendum would be partition.
Akol argued that this would ultimately be bad for all
Sudanese. He urged the U.S. to take steps to assuage
Khartoum by refraining from any diplomatic overtures that
would inflame tensions between the GNU leadership in Khartoum
and the GOSS leadership in Juba.

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Akol: U.S. Seeking
to Split SPLM?
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4. (S) Akol criticized what he viewed as U.S. overtures to
SPLM leaders based in Juba aimed at undermining his
leadership of the movement. (NOTE: Akol did not provide any
specific details on the U.S. efforts he referred to. END
NOTE.) Any attempt to turn SPLM into an "American tool" would
ultimately undermine the movement by lessening its influence
in the GNU. Akol said the Khartoum leadership still feared
that the U.S. is seeking "regime change," adding that it
would not be in the interests of SPLM to overthrow the
National Congress Party's control of the government. He
claimed that any attempt at regime change would hurt the
Southern Sudanese because the most likely alternatives to
President Bashir, Hassan al-Turrabi and Sadiq al-Mahdi, are
deeply hostile to the interests of Southern Sudanese.
Rather, the GNU is the best hope for a unified, peaceful
Sudan.

KHALILZAD