Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10KHARTOUM3
2010-01-03 09:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR GHAZI UPBEAT ON DECEMBER

Tags:  MARR PGOV PHUM PREF PREL SU CD 
pdf how-to read a cable
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P 030900Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4975
INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE
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RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000003 

SIPDIS

NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/03/2020
TAGS: MARR PGOV PHUM PREF PREL SU CD
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR GHAZI UPBEAT ON DECEMBER
24-25 SUDAN-CHAD TALKS, BUT CAUTIONS MORE WORK REQUIRED

REF: A. 09 NDJAMENA 621

B. 09 KHARTOUM 1146

C. 09 KHARTOUM 1273

D. 09 KHARTOUM 1423

Classified By: Classified By: A/CDA Mark L. Asquino for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 000003

SIPDIS

NSC FOR MGAVIN, LETIM
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/03/2020
TAGS: MARR PGOV PHUM PREF PREL SU CD
SUBJECT: PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR GHAZI UPBEAT ON DECEMBER
24-25 SUDAN-CHAD TALKS, BUT CAUTIONS MORE WORK REQUIRED

REF: A. 09 NDJAMENA 621

B. 09 KHARTOUM 1146

C. 09 KHARTOUM 1273

D. 09 KHARTOUM 1423

Classified By: Classified By: A/CDA Mark L. Asquino for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d)


1. (C) Summary. In a December 30 meeting with Acting Charge
d'Affaires and poloff, Presidential Advisor Dr. Ghazi
Salaheddin was upbeat about the December 24-25 visit to
Khartoum of a high-level Chadian delegation led by Chadian
Foreign Minister Musa Faki. He noted that the delegation had
met with President Bashir and other Sudanese officials and
made progress toward full normalization of relations. Ghazi
cautioned, though, that Chad must acknowledge the full extent
of the presence of anti-Sudan rebels on its territory. On
this and other issues, more work needed to be done before a
final agreement could be reached. Ghzi said the meetings had
built confidence on both sides, especially at the
interpersonal level. He is considering heading the Sudanese
delegation scheduled to go to Ndjamena on January 7 for the
next round of talks. End Summary.

2.(C) Ghazi told Acting Charge and poloff that the visit of
the Chadian delegation led by Chadian Foreign Minister Musa
Faki to Khartoum on December 24-25 had resulted in some of
the most successful meetings between the two countries in
recent years. In his view, Sudan and Chad have moved from a
complete lack of trust with each other to a position in which
normalization of relations appears possible. In this regard,
he noted that in some ways Chad seemed even more optimistic
about this occurring than Sudan. He noted, however, that in
his view, the Chadian delegation came to Khartoum thinking
that it would be possible to strike a final agreement. Ghazi
cautioned that such an agreement would not be possible until
Chad acknowledged the full extent of the presence of
anti-Sudan rebels on its territory. When the acting Charge
asked what Ghazi saw as the next step in moving normalization
forward, he responded that the two countries needed to
implement provisions of the 2006 Joint Protocol, Ghazi said
that during the December 24-25 talks, he had told Chad's US
Ambassador Bechir that, despite real difficulties, Sudan had
delivered on its promise to relocate anti-Chad rebel forces
away from the Sudan-Chad border. Ghazi said that Sudan now
expected Chad to do the same with anti-Sudan forces on
Chadian territory. (Note: In an aside, Ghazi joked that
Chad's Ambassador Bechir was "almost Sudanese," given the
amount of time the latter had spent living in Sudan before
moving to Chad. End Note.)


3. (C) Ghazi said the December visit to Khartoum had built
confidence on both sides, especially at the interpersonal
level. He added, however, that he could not yet say there was
"institutional confidence" between the two governments. He
continued that due to Chad's "tribal system," bringing about
normalization of relations between the two countries would
require winning "the hearts and minds of Chadian President
Deby and his inner circle". Dr. Ghazi said that the Sudanese
delegation had been better-prepared for meetings on a number
of technical issues than their Chadian counterparts. When
asked whether the follow-up, January 7 meetings in Ndjamena
would be at a senior or technical level, Ghazi answered that
the original intention was for working-level talks on
military-security issues. Due to this, Ghazi said he had
originally not planned to lead the delegation. However, he
noted he now may do so, given the importance of maintaining
previous momentum built on interpersonal relationships.

4.(C) Comment. If the Chadians and Sudanese can implement the
2006 Joint Protocol, this will be an important step toward
resolving their long-term differences. Such resolution will,
in turn, contribute to helping address security problems in
Darfur. During the next stage of talks, however, Chad and
Sudan will need to agree upon and take concrete actions that
result in stabilization and effective control of their porous
border. Even more challenging, the two countries must
convince their respective proxy rebel forces that the days of
Chadian and Sudanese political/military "patronage" and
territorial sanctuary are truly over, End Comment.



ASQUINO