Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KHARTOUM475
2009-04-05 08:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

SE GRATION'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR

Tags:  PREL PGOV KDEM KPKO SOCI ASEC AU INSC SU 
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RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKH #0475/01 0950817
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 050817Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3462
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000475 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SE GRATION, S/USSES, AF A A/S, AF/E
NSC FOR MGAVIN AND CHUDSON
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KPKO SOCI ASEC AU INSC SU
SUBJECT: SE GRATION'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR
GHAZI SALAHADEEN

REF: A. KHARTOUM 470

B. KHARTOUM 469

C. KHARTOUM 468

Classified By: CDA Alberto M. Fernandez, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000475

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SE GRATION, S/USSES, AF A A/S, AF/E
NSC FOR MGAVIN AND CHUDSON
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KPKO SOCI ASEC AU INSC SU
SUBJECT: SE GRATION'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR
GHAZI SALAHADEEN

REF: A. KHARTOUM 470

B. KHARTOUM 469

C. KHARTOUM 468

Classified By: CDA Alberto M. Fernandez, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting with the President's Special
Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration, NCP-insider and Presidential
Advisor Dr. Ghazi Salahadeen lauded the SE's mission to
improve ties with Sudan while seeking improvements in the
situation in Darfur and CPA implementation. He was less
supportive of SE Gration's call to reverse the decision on
the thirteen expelled International NGOs, but said the regime
is willing to work with the UN to find a way to limit the
impact of the expulsions. SE Gration said that he will work
with the UN to develop a proposal on NGOs that effectively
addresses humanitarian aid gaps and allows the regime to save
face. END SUMMARY


2. (C) Meeting with SE Gration, USSES Tim Shortley, CDA
Fernandez, and emboffs on April 2 in Khartoum, Presidential
Advisor and NCP intellectual Dr. Ghazi Salahadeen said that
the time is ripe for improving US/Sudan relations and offered
his support to SE Gration in his mission to find a political
way forward. He told Gration that the regime is looking
forward to the realization of President Obama's principles of
change, promising "I can assure you of our cooperation." He
called President Obama election an "auspicious moment" for
improving US/Sudan relations and said that "with
determination, it has the potential to be a success story."
After SE Gration outlined his vision to establish a long-term
road-map to resolve the Darfur and CPA issues and normalize
bilateral relations after we succeed, Salahadeen commented,
"What you are saying is music to my ears and has the
potential to positively impact Sudan and the region at
large."


3. (C) Salahadeen noted that improving relations will be a
challenge as many in the NCP believe that Sudan has not

gained from its strategic engagement with the US. "We have
failed time and again to put relations on track. In the past
ten years, we have come across diplomats who had similar
intentions, but Sudan is still a pariah in the eyes of some,
and remains designated as a State Sponsor of Terror despite
our intelligence cooperation. Our relations are encumbered
with a lot of baggage which tends to introduce an element of
suspicion which we have to get over and we will need to tread
cautiously at the beginning." He noted, however, that there
is a strong desire within the regime to find a way out of
this malaise and improve ties with the US. "We need to be
hopeful. We don't hate you, we actually admire you. We see
your films, read your books, study your history. We have
strong objections to the way you conduct your politics." He
believes that Sudan has benefited from strong US engagement
in the past, notably the CPA, which he identified as the
regime's "greatest achievement"


4. (C) Salahadeen sought to raise an attractive specter of
improved relations by painting a tantalizing picture of
Sudan, a "big and rich country, in resources and people, a
regional power in many terms which borders nine countries and
has access to the Red Sea." He said the key to SE Gration's
success will be President Bashir's response. "Make your visit
have the best impact it can on the Big Man. The President has
been indicted, maligned and abused. Let's hope that this
visit will have the right impact on him. He is already
well-disposed."


5. (C) On Darfur, Salahadeen said the regime is unfairly
characterized as indifferent towards the suffering of IDPs,
but argued that the impact of the Darfur conflict has been
exaggerated and politicized. "Do not make wrong assumptions
that the GoS is so callous that it doesn't care about the
suffering of its people. We are not that evil." He said that
the key to resolving Darfur is to bring about a reasonable
level of security. He said that UNAMID should be strengthened
within the Parameters of UN Resolution 1769, but said that
Sudan would be very reluctant to accept a new mechanism, such
as a new mandate for UNAMID operations. He lamented that
political negotiations with rebel groups "have been a
non-starter. We have no-one to tango with." He cautioned that
even with improved security, "Darfur will never become what
you or I would like it to be. After all, this is Africa."

KHARTOUM 00000475 002 OF 002




6. (C) Salahadeen believes the end vision must include the
return of IDPs to their homes. "We would like to have no IDPs
at all, as prolonged existence leads to dependency and
criminalization of the IDP population. Go back they must,
develop their own country they must, grow their own food they
must. If a reasonable level of security is established, then
you can start talking about resettlement, which is the end
goal." SE Gration said that he agreed that the end goal
should include the return of people to their homes so that
the focus can move from relief to development. The SE
underlined that the immediate concern is the gap in
humanitarian services in the wake of the expulsion of 13
international NGOs as Darfur nears its rainy season and a
potential for large numbers of deaths from cholera and
meningitis.


7. (C) SE Gration called on Salahadeen to support finding
ways to minimize deaths resulting from the expulsions of the
thirteen INGOs, re-flag some of the expelled aid groups so
that they can continue to operate, and allow those aid
workers who have been expelled to leave in dignity.
Salahadeen countered that "We need to objectively investigate
the situation in Darfur and not exaggerate the impact. We
have strong objections about what the NGOs are doing and
there is something fundamentally wrong with forcing people to
accept your charity." Salahadeen said that the regime wants
to de-politicize the NGO issue and work with the US through
the UN as a buffer. He asked the SE for specific proposals to
plug the gap, if different than those of the UN. He said that
the regime is not ruling out negotiating on the NGO issue,
but would do so based on objective criteria. SE Gration said
that he will discuss the issue in meetings at the UN and
respond with a proposal that will allow the regime to limit
the impact of the aid gaps, while saving face after the
President's declaration that the expelled aid groups will not
be allowed to return. Salahadeen added that while Sudan has
"embarked on the President's call for Sudanization of
humanitarian work," International NGOs will still be
permitted to work in Sudan "in partnership with local NGOs to
build capacity."


8. (C) Salahadeen complained that rebel movements continue to
traverse Sudan's long, porous border with Chad, noting "If we
can not resolve our issues with Chad, there will never be
peace in Darfur." He said the GoS has been unable to police
the border. "If you cannot control your border with Mexico,
how can we control our border with Chad?" He warned that with
the continued traffic of armed rebel groups crossing back and
forth, the possibility of Darfur spilling over and becoming a
regional problem is very real. He suggested that France could
be of greater help in engaging Chad, but admitted that the
NCP needed more "creative solutions."


9. (C) COMMENT: Salahadeen's positive reaction to SE
Gration's visit and optimistic view for the future of
US/Sudan relations (following progress in Darfur and on CPA
implementation) is in sync with past calls by regime
moderates for a road map for improved ties with the US.
Though many in the regime harbor old resentments toward the
US for perceived broken promises, Salahadeen is not unique in
his belief that turning the page on relations with the US
could benefit Sudan profoundly. While Salahadeen, like many
in the regime, is fundamentally opposed to the work of most
INGOs, he understands that some compromise on NGOs is needed
to fill the humanitarian aid gap and, more importantly to
Salahadeen, signal to the USG that the NCP is not callous and
evil, as it is perceived to be based on its past behavior. SE
Gration will discuss possible NGO proposals for the regime
during his meetings at the UN that offer the GoS a chance to
deliver on improving the humanitarian situation in Darfur and
demonstrate that it is serious in its commitment to resolve
the Darfur crisis and improve ties with the US. END COMMENT.
FERNANDEZ