PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR GHAZI UPBEAT ON DECEMBER

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