Government Optimistic of Kerry's Visit (Darfur) as Historic

[ProSense]

Government Optimistic of Kerry's Visit as Historic

Posted on Wednesday, April 15 @ 00:20:00 BST by admin

Al Sharq Al Awsat. - SV
Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee at the American Congress and former presidential candidate, Senator John Kerry, is scheduled to arrive in Khartoum today on a three-day state visit where he will meet with high-ranking Sudanese officials before flying to Darfur region.

Sudan Government branded Senator Kerry's visit to the country as "Historical and a landmark"
Remarking on the event informed sources in Khartoum described the visit as, "A crucial step in US Democrats policy making in connection with Sudan ", as Kerry is one of Washington policy makers.

Chief to the American Administration in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , Ambassador Nasr-Eddeen Wali, said , "This is a historical and important visit by a high-ranking official of the new American Administration given that it followed immediately the visit of Obama's Special envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration,"

Wali voiced that Sudan looks forward to having constructive dialogue with the American Administration for promoting Khartoum –Washington bilateral relations, speculating that Senator Kerry meetings to discuss means of enhancement these relations.
Meanwhile, reliable sources assumed that positive outcomes of Kerry's visit could lighten pressures on Gration, who has just finished a preliminary visit to the country, and lubricate his debate, on Sudan current issues, with the Congress.

The very sources viewed that President Obama predicted visit to Sudan will be dependent on whether the Sudanese-American dialogue, revived by US Special Envoy, Scott Gration, will achieve, "Positive developments or otherwise." adding that Obama visit will likely happen within the context of his African tour, should that dialogue have reached progressive stages and environments have been set conducive.

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[Blaukraut]

1. k&r n/t

[politicasista]

2. Kick

for Kerry and the Obama Administration. A breath of fresh air. :kick: :patriot:

[karynnj]

7. True - the wave of real diplomacy is a wecome change

It is amazing that Obama has envoys in so many places - all intent on using diplomacy to make the world better.

Given the fact that the financial crisis itself has made the word less stable, it is wonderful that so many people are actively working on healing the world's problems.

I hope Senator Kerry's trip is productive and helpful.

[politicasista]

10. Yep.

That's some Change We Can Believe In. :hi:

[ProSense]

3. Senator John Kerry begins 3 day visit to Sudan

Senator John Kerry begins 3 day visit to Sudan

KHARTOUM (AFP) – US senator John Kerry began a three-day visit to Sudan on Wednesday, the second by a US official since an international court issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Beshir.

Kerry, the senate's foreign relations chairman, will visit Darfur, where a civil war that began in 2003 has killed about 300,000 people, according to the United Nations.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Beshir in March for alleged war crimes in Darfur.

"It's a pleasure for me to be here in Sudan and I look forward to some very indepth discussions. There are obviously some very very important issues for us to talk about," Kerry told reporters in Khartoum.

Kerry said he would "engage on humanitarian issues and obviously issues pertaining to the conflict."

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[politicasista]

4. Sounds interesting n/t

[karynnj]

5. I hope that he and the special envoy between them can

improve the situation in Darfur. It would be great if enough progress is made to justify an Obama trip.

This has been a tough recess break for Senator Kerry with extensive visits to Pakistan and Sudan.

[blm]

9. He's not only the sharpest mind we have concerning those regions, but also the most honest

and he knows damn well who CAN and CANNOT be trusted.

[karynnj]

13. BLM - he actually has some one as honest and sharp with him - Teresa

Here is a Reuters TV (London) script of his arrival -

TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS~**NONE**~

"U.S. senator John Kerry arrives in Sudan on a three-day visit for talks
with government officials on the situation in Darfur.

SHOWS:

KHARTOUM, SUDAN (APRIL 15, 2009) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
1. U.S. SENATOR JOHN KERRY AND HIS WIFE TERESA WITH U.S. AND SUDANESE
OFFICIALS WALKING INTO VIP LOUNGE AT KHARTOUM AIRPORT"


http://progressiveindependent.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=printer_friendly&forum=202&topic_id=9998

[ObamaKerryDem]

6. Best of luck to the Senator on this very important trip. I know he'll represent us well. :) k&r

[ProSense]

8. Photos Pakistan and Sudan

U.S. Sen. John Kerry, left, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, gestures as Pakistan's
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi looks on during their joint press conference in Islamabad,
Pakistan on Monday, April 13, 2009. Kerry arrived in Pakistan to hold talks with Pakistani
officials and leaders regarding regional security, and economics issues.




Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani (R) and Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations
Committee John Kerry meet before their meeting in Islamabad April 13, 2009.




U.S. Sen. John Kerry, second from right, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, hold a meeting
with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, left, in Islamabad, Pakistan on Monday,
April 13, 2009. Kerry arrived in Pakistan to hold talks with Pakistani officials and leaders regarding
regional security, and economics issues.




Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi (L) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman
U.S. Senator John Kerry talk before their meeting at foreign ministry in Islamabad April 13, 2009.
The United States should not put conditions on an expected substantial increase in U.S. aid to its
ally Pakistan, Pakistan's prime minister told visiting. Kerry on Monday.




US Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman John Kerry (R) talks with Sudanese parliament
Vice-President Mohammed al-Hassan upon arrival in Khartoum on April 15, 2009 for a visit to
Sudan for talks on a North-South peace accord.

daylife.com

[karynnj]

11. Nice pictures

[blm]

16. love the pics....thankyou.

.

[karynnj]

17. Here's a link to video of JK and THK in Sudan

http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_me/2009-04-16/467092612725.html

THK looks great - in spite of having traveled to Pakistan for a few days then here.

[ObamaKerryDem]

18. She looks amazing! They both do. :)

And the pics are great. The visit seems to be going very well if what we are getting from it so far is any indication. Thanks for sharing, ProSense!

[politicasista]

20. Yes she does

:)

[BlueIris]

27. Man. That's great art. nt

[ClarkUSA]

12. Good for Senator Kerry. I'm sure he'll have much to share w/ Pres. Obama when he gets back.

[YvonneCa]

14. Every time I see our Democrats at work...

...setting things right...I smile. :) Thanks, Prosense.

[ObamaKerryDem]

19. Here, too. I'm so happy they are now representing us to the world! :)

[karynnj]

22. Me too

It has to be a welcome change for the world as well.

[YvonneCa]

26. For sure. Now if we can just convince...

...those 'tea-bag types.' :7

[AtomicKitten]

15. Hell yes. K&R

[karynnj]

21. Reuters reports - Sudan to allow some relief aid in Darfur

A small amount of good news - though more is needed. (All 13 relief aid organizations were thrown out.)

Sudan has told the United States it will allow some aid back into its Darfur region, U.S. Senator John Kerry said on Thursday.

"Thanks to the leadership of the president's special envoy General Scott Gration and thanks to the willingness of the government here to engage in a new dialogue with us, some of that capacity for humanitarian assistance will be restored," Kerry told reporters after meeting senior members of the Sudanese government.

But Kerry, who heads the U.S. Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, said more would need to be done.

"Today I emphasised, to all the leaders I met with, that a partial restoration of capacity is not sufficient," Kerry said.

"Time is of the essence to avert a humanitarian catastrophe."

http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKTRE53F6CD20090416

[ProSense]

23. More photos

U.S. Senator John Kerry meets with Sudanese Vice President Ali Osman Mohammed Taha, right,
in the capital Khartoum, Sudan, Thursday, April 16, 2009. Kerry said Sudan has agreed to
allow some aid back into Darfur after the Sudanese president expelled more than a dozen
aid groups from the region last month but did not indicate Thursday whether any of the
expelled aid groups would be allowed to return.




U.S. Senator John Kerry speaks to the media after meeting with Sudanese Vice President Ali
Osman Mohammed Taha, not pictured, in the capital Khartoum, Sudan, Thursday, April 16, 2009.
Kerry said Sudan has agreed to allow some aid back into Darfur after the Sudanese president
expelled more than a dozen aid groups from the region last month but did not indicate Thursday
whether any of the expelled aid groups would be allowed to return.




US senator John Kerry (L) meets with assistant to the Sudanese president, Nafie Ali Nafie in
Khartoum on April 16, 2009. Kerry, the senate's foreign relations chairman, began a three-day
visit to Sudan on April 15, the second by a US official since an international court issued
an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Beshir.

daylife.com

[karynnj]

24. Nice pictures - but it looks like the photographer cropped out Teresa

in the top one.

[politicasista]

25. Thanks n/t

[karynnj]

28. Nice article with more detail on both aid and working for peace

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-17-voa26.cfm