LETTER OF APPRECIATION FROM SUDANESE PRESIDENT AL BASHIR TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001770 DEPT FOR S/ES-CR, S/ES-OS, AF A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON, AF/SPG NSC FOR HUDSON AND PITTMAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU SIPDIS ¶E. O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SU SUBJECT: LETTER OF APPRECIATION FROM SUDANESE PRESIDENT AL BASHIR TO PRESIDENT BUSH ¶1. (U) Post has received a letter of appreciation (text in paragraph 2) for President Bush from Sudanese President Al-Bashir. A copy of the original letter has been transmitted to the Department via pouch. ¶2. (U) Begin Text: Dear Mr. President: On behalf of the people and government of Sudan, I express my sincere appreciation for the dedication your administration has shown in helping bring the north-south Sudan civil war to an end. As your eight years in office come to a close, you can be justifiably proud of this major and historic foreign policy triumph. Indeed, as per the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, southern Sudanese and the rest of Sudan will cast votes in fair and free general elections during 2009, which the Carter Institute and other international monitors will be invited to observe. I am writing to you directly because we stand on the threshold of another historic opportunity: a durable peaceful settlement of the conflict in Darfur and the normalization of relations between the United States and Sudan. I have instructed my government to do all that it can to expedite the full deployment of UNAMID troops in Darfur (see attachment). These steps have been taken to help supplement security in the internally displaced persons camps, and protect relief supply lines from relentless rebel and bandit attacks - which remain the biggest threat to the marked improvement in humanitarian indicators on the ground in Darfur since 2004. My government does not condone impunity in Darfur. In fact, members of government agencies have been sentenced to death for proven crimes in Darfur. My government has also recently established special courts, headed by a widely respected Darfuri, which will involve lawyers appointed by the African Union and the Arab League, to re-visit other alleged cases of abuse in Darfur. To pave the way for a more comprehensive political settlement in Darfur, I inaugurated in mid-October a rolling domestic town-hall initiative, endorsed by, and with input from, Darfur's civic leaders and all of Sudan's other main political parties, which drew-up concrete recommendations for ending the Darfur conflict peacefully. Finally, I would like to reaffirm to you that my government will continue to do its utmost to accomplish all that it takes to solve the issue of Darfur peacefully. I know your administration is in contact with the various rebel factions, and could be of enormous assisance in both pressuring them to reciprocate positively to the unilateral ceasefire by the Sudan Armed Forces that I sincerely declared in late November, and bringing them to the table at the crucial forthcoming Qatari-sponsored peace talks. The Sudanese people and I welcome you personally to Khartoum, even after you leave office. You will receive a warm welcome. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir President of the Republic of Sudan Enclosure text: Fast-track customs clearance at Port Sudan (7 days maximum) operating for UNAMID equipment and assets. Sudanese government provides escorts for UNAMID convoys to Darfur every 48 hours; escorts to be increased shortly to every 24 hours. Sudanese government - in consultation with UNAMID and UN's World Food Programme - agreed to give extra security for transportation of humanitarian goods along vital aid corridors throughout Darfur. UNAMID gets use of El Fasher, Nyala, and El Geneina airports to facilitate deployment and operations: Sudanese government also recently approved UNAMID request to extend airport working time by two hours. Sudanese government granted all land and water access requested by UNAMID to support its infrastructure and base expansion. UNAMID trains Sudanese police on modern policing techniques and human rights law. Cooperation programme spawns establishment of community policing in South Darfur state, with training of over 287 people - thirty of them women. UNAMID boosts patrols - with full support from the Sudanese KHARTOUM 00001770 002 OF 002 government - to provide additional security in internally displaced persons camps. Sudanese government provides logistical and humanitarian support following armed attack on UNAMID personnel in Shangeli Tobaya, ¶2008. Sudanese government approved troop contributions to UNAMID from Thailand and Nepal; expedited deployment of engineering units from Egypt, China, and Ethiopia for UNAMID, too. Sudanese government welcomes US government offer of assistance in airlifting troops and other vital assets to hasten UNAMID deployment. Sudanese government signed memorandum of understanding to facilitate landing of South Africa planes at Sudanese airports to alleviate logistical difficulties and rotation of military staff for UNAMID. End text. FERNANDEZ