Sudan’s envoy in the US hopes Powell’s visit will explain real situation in Darfur
KHARTOUM, June 28, 2004 (SUNA) — The Sudanese Charge d’Affaires in Washington, Ambassador Khidir Haroun, hoped that the visit of the US Secretary of State, Collin Powell, to Sudan will show the real situation in Darfur states, and refuting reports being circulated by anti-Sudan circles with the aim to use the exceptional satiation in Darfur to undermine the whole peace process.
In an interview to SUNA, Ambassador Haroun explained that the visit provides a good opportunity to confer with respect to pushing ahead the final stage of the peace negotiations for achievement of lasting peace agreement.
The US Secretary of State is due to pay a field visits to Darfur where he will be acquainted with the real humanitarian situation there. The ambassador said that some NGOs, media networks and other bodies hostile to Sudan in the past two decades have been behind exaggerated portray of the humanitarian situation in Darfur, which surfaced via the unjustifiable rebellion.
On the apparent contradiction in the American statements regarding normalization of relations between Sudan and the United States, the Ambassador explained that the US administration put two conditions for normalizing the bilateral relations, including the signing of a peace agreement to end the civil war in the south and cooperation with the international community for combating terrorism.
The ambassador explained that the government of Sudan has signed six peace protocols with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and that Sudan is among the countries which are cooperating with the international community on combat of terrorism, referring to the annual American report on terrorism, which acquitted Sudan in this domain.
He said that, accordingly, Sudan’s name was supposed to be removed from the list of the courtiers accused by US of sponsoring terrorism, adding that due to political reasons the US administration preferred not to do that with a view that the government and the SPLM did not yet sign a peace agreement.
He said that the American administration was expected to fulfil its promises and to normalize relations with the Sudan, as well as upgrading levels of diplomatic representation, removing the unilateral American sanctions and removing Sudan name from the said list.
Ambassador Haroun expressed his view that a final solution for Darfur problem will be a new condition for normalizing of the Sudanese – American relations, urging Washington to fulfil its pledges and to show keenness to establish normal relations with Khartoum instead of putting more conditions.