Sudanese FM, American envoy discuss details of Powell’s visit
KHARTOUM, June 27, 2004 (SUNA) — The Foreign Minister, Mustafa Osman Ismail, Sunday received at his office the American Charge d’ Affaires to Khartoum, Gerald Gallucci, and discussed preparations for the coming visit of the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, to Sudan.
In a press statement after the meeting, Ismail said that the American Secretary of State will meet with the president of the Republic, the First Vice President and the Foreign Minister, adding that these meetings will discuss a number of issues.
He said that by the visit the US Secretary of State aims to get informed with different issues in Sudan, especially that the last visit paid to Sudan by an American Secretary of State was a number of decades ago.
He stressed that Sudan is adopting the policy of open doors for any one who want to know real facts in the country. He reiterated that there is a humanitarian and security problems in Darfur, stressing that efforts are now being exerted to solve these problems.
The Foreign Minister said that the government believes that the solution of Darfur problem shall be a political one.
Responding to a question of a journalist on US sanctions on Sudan, Dr. Ismail said that American sanctions on Sudan are not something new, adding that there is no trade or economic relations between Sudan and the United States, while limited number of visits are being exchanged.
He indicated that Sudan is still included in the US administration’s list of countries sponsoring terrorism, while there are around 7 – 10 American decisions and sanctions’ acts which were issued against Sudan by the American administration, besides other decisions of the US Congress.
The minister has underestimated the impact of the American decisions against Sudan concerning the international situation, explaining that the international community is understanding the conditions in Sudan.
He said that, depending on openness and the good relations with other countries as well as the current economic situation and the progress in the peace process, the government can confront like such sanctions and decisions. Dr. Ismail said that the excessive provocations will result in negative outcome.
On the visit of foreign delegations and their contribution to solution of Darfur problem, The Foreign Minister said that some these delegations come to Sudan to extend humanitarian aid and hear views and proposals, such as the recent visit of the Swiss Foreign Minister, while other delegations’ visit Sudan were aimed to give harsh statements and to hold Sudan government responsible for the current conditions in Darfur.