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) DEPT FOR SE GRATION, S/USSES, AF A A/S CARTER, AF/PDPA, AF/C, IIP/G/AF, RRU-AF, PA/PRS NSC FOR MGAVIN AND CHUDSON DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU SENSITIVE SIPDIS 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