Transcript of Press briefing by Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the VIP Lounge at Khartoum International Airport

Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 4:45PM

Is everybody ready? All set? Well thank you for coming. I am standing here with General Gration, President Obama’s Special Envoy to Sudan and with Michelle Gavin of the National Security Council at the White House-directly representing President Obama. Let me say that I am pleased to be back here in Khartoum so much sooner than I thought I would be, and I am very grateful to the leaders for making themselves available both in the north and the south to have an important series of discussions regarding the negotiations that are taking place now.

President Obama asked me to come here with Ms. Gavin in order to emphasize to the leaders of both the north and the South his commitment – his deep commitment -to the peace process and to these negotiations that are taking place. And in order to try to accelerate the process, and in order to emphasize the importance of seizing this historic moment. President Obama has made available to the leaders of both the north and the south, his own proposals for ways in which he thinks we can advance the interests of the Sudanese people, and indeed help to bring peace in this region.

The President has through me made those proposals available to Vice President Taha and General Salah Gosh and to President Kiir, and it is our hope that with the great efforts-significant efforts of President Thabo Mbeki who we also met with, and who has received these proposals –It is our hope that this historic moment can be seized by all the parties.

The Sudanese people long for peace. And they long for a better relationship with the rest of the world. I believe that what President Obama has put on the table is a historic moment and a set of offers that can help us to be able to make the most out of this opportunity. So, in addition to the question of the Referendum, the President also –as all Americans- remains concerned about progress in Darfur. And Darfur will remain a concern as an ongoing part of this process. But I think the way the President has articulated these particular proposals- it gives us an opportunity to make the most of the Referendum in the next few days. And then depending on what the people of the South decide- articulate with clarity the road forward for a better economic relationship, a better security relationship and better people to people relationship between the United States and Sudan. That is our hope –That is what brings us here and that is why General Scott Gration has been here for the past year and a half working towards this process. We are now down to two months. In seven days people will begin to register to vote, so it is important for all parties to find in their hearts the ability to compromise, for all parties to act in good faith and to recognize that on January 9th there is a unique moment for Sudan, to redefine its own relationship not just with the United States but with the rest of the world. So I am pleased to take a couple of questions, we have to rush I am afraid – because of our time frame- but yes. Yes Ma’am (speaking to reporter from Bloomberg)

Q1. Maram Mazen from Bloomberg: Did you bring any new proposals especially on Abyei? Were there any new promises for the U.S. lifting sanctions?

Senator Kerry’s response: The answer is yes, President Obama has offered new proposals and yes, we do have thoughts with respect to Abyei. But in respect to all the parties, and in respect to the process of negotiating, I think it is important for all of the interested parties at the table to work those through by themselves and I think it is better for me not to lay those out at this point in time and it is up to them when they would like to do that or if they would like to do that. But the answer is definitively yes, President Obama has offered a road map for how to move forward and we have offered some new thoughts about how to resolve Abyei and my hope is that that can be advanced more effectively. Anybody else? Is that it? Yes sir,

Q2. (Journalist name and Media outlet inaudible) Do you think there is a need to “respond” [meaning to postpone] the referendum?

Senator Kerry’s response: No, I think the Referendum is achievable, if everybody works hard in the next days. I am convinced that the Referendum can go forward competently –It will require a lot of effort but I am confident of that.

Q3. This is my first question, my second question is, do you think the renewal of the new U.S. sanctions will change anything with regards to resolving the Abyei and the Referendum and the other issues?

Senator Kerry’s response: Two weeks ago when I was here, I made it clear to your leaders that the renewal was going to take place as a matter of automatic course. Because, the Referendum has not taken place yet, because there is not a resolution of Abyei yet, because, we still need to move forward with respect to the current negotiation on oil revenue, on the economy and other issues. So that we know progress is being made. The President is prepared as those events take place- to do his part to change the relationship with respect to the designation of the automatic sanction designation. and I believe the President will be willing providing your leaders seize this opportunity and make the most of the next two months, I believe the President will be willing to make appropriate consideration about sanctions. As I said to you, said he has put a specific set of constructive proposals before your leaders and it is really now up to the leaders in Sudan north and south to seize this opportunity. It is not something that we can make happen, it is something that you have to make happen. And we look forward to your leaders, and may I say in fairness that all of your leaders emphasized to me their commitment to moving forward with the Referendum. And all of your leaders represented to me both north and south, their commitment to find a peaceful path forward that resolves these principal issues. I am impressed and I leave here optimistic, hopeful that these next days will mean what they ought to mean for the people of Sudan. So I wish you well it has been a privilege to be able to be here, a part of this for a few days and I hope we will get good results. Last question

Q4. Abdel Moneim Idrees from Agence France Presse : Can you give more details on President Obama’s new proposals

Senator Kerry’s response: I wish I could, but honestly I just think it is inappropriate for me to you know leave here at the airport to put them out here. I think it is up to the leaders to digest them, to think about them to have the freedom to think about them without a lot of pressure at this point.
I am confident that as the days go on you will become aware one way or the other of what those specifics are. But I don’t think it is my job or it is appropriate for me to do that. So again I need to get going because I have another meeting with Prime Minister Meles and I do not want to be late for that. So thank you all very, very much. I appreciate it.