MEDIA REACTION: CODEL KERRY'S VISIT TO SUDAN

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000542

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (GARBLED TEXT, PARA 6)

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CODEL KERRY'S VISIT TO SUDAN


1. (U) SUMMARY: The state-influenced Khartoum press corps reacted
very positively to the visit of Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, echoing sentiments for better
U.S.-Sudanese relations seen after the visit of U.S. Special Envoy
to Sudan General Scott Gration earlier this month. While some
editorials voiced cautious speculation as to the "true purpose" of
Senator Kerry's visit to Sudan, eager praise for the Senator (to the
point of being unrealistic or overly-optimistic) overflowed the
margins of several other outlets. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Upon arrival of CODEL Kerry, the pro-government "Al-Khartoum"
newspaper carried coverage typical of other publications, announcing
through its headlines that "Kerry's Visit to Khartoum Will Be
Instrumental in Lifting U.S. Sanctions on Sudan," noting that the
Government of Sudan "welcomed the U.S. Congressional Delegation and
that the [Sudanese] bilateral relationship with Washington was about
to enter a new level."


3. (U) "Al-Sahafa," a more independent newspaper, printed an
editorial by Al-Tahir Satti, entitled "Let the Dialogue Be
Constructive for the Nation," in which the author opined that
Senator Kerry's visit "must be the result of the positive impact of
[General] Gration's previous visit," and that "this sort of dialogue
must continue... to lead to political stability instead of tension."
Likewise, "Akhir Lahza," a normally very pro-Government of Sudan
(GoS) newspaper, ran a headline claiming "Kerry's Visit Affirms that
Winds of Change Have Crossed the Ocean to Reach Sudan," with text
promising Sudan's "ties with the U.S. will be normalized soon."


4. (U) Not every paper was 100 percent rosy about the Senator's
visit, however. "Rai Al-Shaab," Dr. Hassan al-Turabi's pro-Popular
Congress Party newspaper, ran a column in which author Mohammed
Mahmoud Al-Bashir was openly wary of the "soft-toned approach" of
both the Special Envoy and the U.S. Senator, asking what "Kerry's
happiness and Gration's love" for Sudan "really means." The
pro-government "Sudan Vision" remarked that Sudan is "waiting for
the implementation of U.S. promises... and hopes that [President]
Obama comes into reality" in his approach towards Sudan.


5. (U) On April 17, Radio Omdurman, Sudan's state-run radio service,
carried a sermon from the Al-Shahid mosque in Khartoum by
influential Shaykh Nazir Jalil al-Karuri that focused specifically
on the recent visits of the Special Envoy and CODEL Kerry.
Al-Kururi argued that these visits "prove the strength of [Sudanese
President] Al-Bashir's position... even though he is wanted for
prosecution by the International Criminal Court." Continued
al-Kururi, "Al-Bashir has not only managed to get away but now the
whole world recognizes him as a respectable president, otherwise the
General and the Senator would not have been sent to negotiate with
him in his capital."


6. (SBU) COMMENT: With few exceptions, Khartoum and its press corps
appeared to be elated by the visit of CODEL Kerry. Whether or not
this optimism will translate into actual action by the Government of
Sudan that significantly alleviates humanitarian suffering in Darfur
(as well as advancing other U.S. interests in Sudan) remains to be
seen. Recent Sudan history would urge caution on the regime's
ability or willingness to fulfill its promises. We anticipate
positive steps by the government in the short term, but continued
engagement and careful monitoring will be required to sustain any
tangible movement in the right direction. END COMMENT

FERNANDEZ