U.S. HOST BLOCKS SUDATEL INTERNET DOMAIN NAME

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001003 DEPT FOR SE WILLIAMSON, AF/SPG, EEB/ESC/ESP(KLEIN),EEB/CIP DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN DEPT PLS PASS TREASURY FOR OFAC SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EINT EAID PREL PGOV SU SUBJECT: U.S. HOST BLOCKS SUDATEL INTERNET DOMAIN NAME REF: 07-03-2008 Mulligan-Struble email ¶1. (U) This is an action request - see para 4. ¶2. (SBU) In meetings with CDA Fernandez on July 6, Presidential Advisor Osman Ismail and the Sudanese Foreign Ministry raised U.S.-host company Network Solutions locking of Sudan Telecommunications Company's (SUDATEL) internet domain name (ref email). Osman appealed for USG assistance to reverse the decision or allow SUDATEL to transfer its domain to a non-U.S. host. MFA also provided the CDA with copies of internal email correspondence between SUDATEL and Network Solutions. In a separate meeting, the MFA asserted to a UNAMID official that Network Solutions' action will cause Sudan to loose all internet access within several months. ¶3. (U) On April 8, SUDATEL was informed via email by Kim Gasper, Executive Support Specialist, Network Solutions, (tel: 570-708-8700, email: kgasper@networksolutions.com) that its internet domain name had been locked (substantive text in para. 5). On April 10, SUDATEL queried whether its domain register could be transferred to another company. On April 11, it was informed that "... upon further investigation, we have been advised that the U.S. laws and federal regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control prevent us from unlocking the domain name for transfer." ¶4. (SBU) Action request: If true, the assertion that Sudan may soon loose its internet access is cause for serious concern. Lack of internet access would cripple efforts to implement a number of key U.S. policy interests in Sudan, including CPA implementation, UNAMID deployment, and humanitarian assistance in Darfur. It will hurt private Sudanese, opposition political parties and civil society and could lead to GOS retaliation against the US Embassy. Post requests Washington guidance on how to respond to the GoS and to SUDATEL, and what to advise them about how to work with Network Solutions or another U.S. vendor in obtaining an OFAC license to permit SUDATEL to continue to provide internet service. Post further requests that the Department and OFAC reach out to Network Solutions to seek to remedy this situation, or if preferred, Embassy Khartoum could assist Network Solutions with this process with guidance from the Department and OFAC. End action request. ¶5. (U) Begin Text: Your Domain Name is locked due to OFAC (Office of Foreign Asset Control) rules. I have provided a link below for your reference. The Country you reside in may be listed in the Office of Foreign Assets Control, therefore, due to U.S. law and federal regulations we are not able to process your credit card for renewals or continue to maintain registration of the domains that resided in your Account. Please feel free to submit any documentation related to this issue to our Legal Department at resolution1@networksolutions.com or you can fax it to 703-668-5959. End Text. FERNANDEZ