AL BASHIR ENDORSES BETTER RELATIONS WITH U.S., BLAMES CHAD

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000369 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KSCA OTRA EAID CDC SU SUBJECT: AL BASHIR ENDORSES BETTER RELATIONS WITH U.S., BLAMES CHAD FOR UNFULFILLED PEACE AGREEMENTS ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: President Omar Al Bashir told reporters March 11 that Sudan needs better relations with the United States. In his remarks, he also criticized Chad, saying the country had not respected peace agreements with Sudan and that yet another peace agreement, negotiated by Senegal President Wade, is unlikely to achieve anything new. Al Bashir spoke at a news Conference in Dubai at the end of his March 9-11 visit to the United Arab Emirates. END SUMMARY. BETTER RELATIONS WITH U.S. NEEDED -------------- ¶2. (U) Commenting on U.S.-Sudan relations, Al Bashir said the United States is influential on all issues, so it is not in Sudan's interests to be hostile to it. He said dialogue with Washington requires time and patience. He went on to criticize the USG, alleging it had broken past commitments on resolving bilateral differences after the signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. ¶3. (U) In a separate interview with CNN, quoted in the Khartoum press, Sudan Foreign Minister Deng Alor said Sudan is pushing an initiative to normalize relations with the United States. He added that he had met in Addis Ababa with U.S. officials, including *Secretary* Rice, to this end. Asked whether Sudan would make concessions to the U.S. on Darfur, Alor0u#f&ts unlikely to honor a new agreement in Dakar, he said. Al Bashir was referring to a draft peace agreement negotiated by Senegal. The GNU has yet to announce whether Al Bashir will sign the agreement March 12 while in Dakar for an Organization of the Islamic Conference summit. Al Bashir added that "we want to confirm that we want peace. We have no claims on Chad. Our country is big and we do not need extra territory." ¶5. (SBU) COMMENTS: Al Bashir's comments to the local press, along with statements from other government officials, seek to convey that the President is serious about improving relations with the United States, and is well disposed towards S/E Williamson's proposals in particular. They were remarkably mild for a ruler who often makes incendiary off-the-cuff remarks. As for his criticisms of Chad, these were met by most observers with a hearty laugh, as the same can obviously be said of Sudan - which has also failed to observe its bilateral peace agreements with Chad. FERNANDEZ