Sudanese official says USA keen to improve ties with Sudan
By Al-Khartoum daily newspaper
KHARTOUM, Dec 16, 2003 — The US administration has taken practical measures to see how it can improve its ties with Sudan after the signing of a peace agreement.
The minister of state for external relations, Eng Chuol Deng, has said his meeting with the US charge d’affaires and another official in charge of political affairs at the US embassy, followed a request by the two officials to hold the meeting. The meeting touched on the role expected to be played by the USA in future in order to convince the government and the [Sudan People’s Liberation] Movement to bring about peace as early as possible.
He said the talks focused on peace issues, activation of the US role, bilateral relations, promotion of diplomatic activities and the role expected to be played by the USA after the signing of the peace agreement.
In a statement to the press, Deng said the US charge d’affaires said the USA was keen to improve ties with Sudan on condition the war was ended.
He said the USA promised to provide Sudan with its various needs with the assistance of donors, within the framework of a joint planing mechanism, which was proposed in the USA. The mechanism will include the Sudanese viewpoint after the formation of a united government.
Deng said the ongoing [peace] talks in Naivasha [Kenya] between the government and SPLM leader were being held in secrecy in the interest of the two parties.
BBC Monitoring Middle East