Russian and Sudanese presidents discuss referendum, bilateral relations

October 25, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Russia has showed today its interest to play a role in the resolution of the outstanding issues between the two Sudanese peace partners and organize a peaceful referendum that might affect the regional stability.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev discussed Monday in a telephone conversation with his Sudanese counterpart Omer Al-Bashir the ongoing efforts to settle the row between the National Congress Party and the Sudan people’s Liberation Movement.

President Al-Bashir briefed Medvedev on the preparations to hold the southern Sudan referendum and stressed Khartoum commitment to hold it as scheduled next January.

For his part, Medvedev reaffirmed Russia readiness to continue its active efforts in cooperation with the international community to facilitate it. He further stressed that these efforts should be “unbiased and balanced, in order to facilitate constructive interaction with Khartoum”, the Kremlin said in a press statement.

The official SUNA in Khartoum said the Russian President called to write off Sudan’s debit.

Sudan demands to cancel its debit as this issue is one of the outstanding issues the two partners of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement failed to settle.

The two presidents also agreed to develop trade and economic relations between the two countries. Medvedev further pledged to increase Russian investments in agriculture, mining and oil.

The Russian special envoy to Sudan, Mikhail Margelov, will visit Sudan next December to follow up the implementation of the issue discussed today by the two presents.

(ST)