CODEL PAYNE VISIT TO SUDAN (AUG 9-11)

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001151 DEPT FOR AF/SPG, A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON, DRL/ILCSR, G/TIP ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN DOL FOR ILAB SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU SUBJECT: CODEL PAYNE VISIT TO SUDAN (AUG 9-11) REF: STATE 82062 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Due to the August 8-15 visit to Sudan of Presidential Envoy to Sudan Richard Williamson, Post regrets that it will be unable to fully support the visit by CoDel Payne to Southern Sudan during reftel timeframe. Unfortunately, the proposed August 9-11 dates for CoDel Payne to US ConGen Juba and Abyei overlap exactly with the confirmed dates of travel and meetings in Juba and Abyei of SE Williamson. Post does not have staff or other resources to support both visits simultaneously. However, Khartoum would welcome CoDel Payne's visit if proposed dates could be delayed by 24 hours to an August 10 arrival and August 12 departure. Otherwise, Post recommends CoDel postpone travel to Sudan to a later time that does not conflict with another VIP delegation. End Summary ¶2. (SBU) US Embassy Khartoum and US ConGen Juba will be hosting a visit by Presidential Special Envoy Richard Williamson from August 8 to August 15, 2008. SE Williamson, CDA Alberto Fernandez, the five-person staff of the SE, two embassy Poloffs, and one A/RSO have confirmed travel to Juba on Saturday, August 9. The delegation will be staying on the compound of US ConGen Juba on Saturday, August 9, and traveling to Abyei and Agok by charter plane and UNMIS helicopter on Sunday, August 10. ¶3. (SBU) US ConGen Juba operates with extremely limited resources in a dangerous and unstable environment; accommodating two VIP visits simultaneously exceeds US ConGen Juba's capacity for assisting official travel. US ConGen Juba is currently staffed by the Consul General and Juba RSO and local staff, which will be engaged to the maximum along with Khartoum TDY assistance to support the SE delegation. US ConGen Juba does not have enough vehicles to transport both delegations safely and expeditiously. Post requires official travelers to spend the night on the US ConGen Juba compound, and unfortunately the compound also cannot accommodate two delegations. ¶4. (SBU) For these reasons, Embassy Sudan must respectfully decline a visit by CoDel Payne in the August 9-11 timeframe. However, Khartoum would welcome CoDel Payne's visit if proposed dates can be moved by 24 hours -i.e. to an August 10 arrival and August 12 departure. This would de-conflict scheduling for the two delegations. Pls. advise on proposed 24 hour delay in arrival. FERNANDEZ