VZCZCXRO3929
OO RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1770/01 3461556
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111556Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2511
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 001770
DEPT FOR S/ES-CR, S/ES-OS, AF A/S FRAZER, SE WILLIAMSON, AF/SPG
NSC FOR HUDSON AND PITTMAN
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU
SIPDIS
E. O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SU
SUBJECT: LETTER OF APPRECIATION FROM SUDANESE PRESIDENT AL BASHIR TO
PRESIDENT BUSH
1. (U) Post has received a letter of appreciation (text in paragraph
2) for President Bush from Sudanese President Al-Bashir. A copy of
the original letter has been transmitted to the Department via
pouch.
2. (U) Begin Text:
Dear Mr. President:
On behalf of the people and government of Sudan, I express my
sincere appreciation for the dedication your administration has
shown in helping bring the north-south Sudan civil war to an end.
As your eight years in office come to a close, you can be
justifiably proud of this major and historic foreign policy triumph.
Indeed, as per the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, southern Sudanese
and the rest of Sudan will cast votes in fair and free general
elections during 2009, which the Carter Institute and other
international monitors will be invited to observe.
I am writing to you directly because we stand on the threshold of
another historic opportunity: a durable peaceful settlement of the
conflict in Darfur and the normalization of relations between the
United States and Sudan. I have instructed my government to do all
that it can to expedite the full deployment of UNAMID troops in
Darfur (see attachment). These steps have been taken to help
supplement security in the internally displaced persons camps, and
protect relief supply lines from relentless rebel and bandit attacks
- which remain the biggest threat to the marked improvement in
humanitarian indicators on the ground in Darfur since 2004.
My government does not condone impunity in Darfur. In fact, members
of government agencies have been sentenced to death for proven
crimes in Darfur. My government has also recently established
special courts, headed by a widely respected Darfuri, which will
involve lawyers appointed by the African Union and the Arab League,
to re-visit other alleged cases of abuse in Darfur.
To pave the way for a more comprehensive political settlement in
Darfur, I inaugurated in mid-October a rolling domestic town-hall
initiative, endorsed by, and with input from, Darfur's civic leaders
and all of Sudan's other main political parties, which drew-up
concrete recommendations for ending the Darfur conflict peacefully.
Finally, I would like to reaffirm to you that my government will
continue to do its utmost to accomplish all that it takes to solve
the issue of Darfur peacefully. I know your administration is in
contact with the various rebel factions, and could be of enormous
assisance in both pressuring them to reciprocate positively to the
unilateral ceasefire by the Sudan Armed Forces that I sincerely
declared in late November, and bringing them to the table at the
crucial forthcoming Qatari-sponsored peace talks.
The Sudanese people and I welcome you personally to Khartoum, even
after you leave office. You will receive a warm welcome.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest
consideration.
Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir
President of the Republic of Sudan
Enclosure text:
Fast-track customs clearance at Port Sudan (7 days maximum)
operating for UNAMID equipment and assets.
Sudanese government provides escorts for UNAMID convoys to Darfur
every 48 hours; escorts to be increased shortly to every 24 hours.
Sudanese government - in consultation with UNAMID and UN's World
Food Programme - agreed to give extra security for transportation of
humanitarian goods along vital aid corridors throughout Darfur.
UNAMID gets use of El Fasher, Nyala, and El Geneina airports to
facilitate deployment and operations: Sudanese government also
recently approved UNAMID request to extend airport working time by
two hours.
Sudanese government granted all land and water access requested by
UNAMID to support its infrastructure and base expansion.
UNAMID trains Sudanese police on modern policing techniques and
human rights law. Cooperation programme spawns establishment of
community policing in South Darfur state, with training of over 287
people - thirty of them women.
UNAMID boosts patrols - with full support from the Sudanese
KHARTOUM 00001770 002 OF 002
government - to provide additional security in internally displaced
persons camps.
Sudanese government provides logistical and humanitarian support
following armed attack on UNAMID personnel in Shangeli Tobaya,
2008.
Sudanese government approved troop contributions to UNAMID from
Thailand and Nepal; expedited deployment of engineering units from
Egypt, China, and Ethiopia for UNAMID, too.
Sudanese government welcomes US government offer of assistance in
airlifting troops and other vital assets to hasten UNAMID
deployment.
Sudanese government signed memorandum of understanding to facilitate
landing of South Africa planes at Sudanese airports to alleviate
logistical difficulties and rotation of military staff for UNAMID.
End text.
FERNANDEZ