Sudan’s NCP confirms its delegation’s visit to Washington

May 11, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) confirmed on Saturday that a delegation will head soon to Washington for talks on bilateral relations and resolution of outstanding issues with its southern neighbour.

The announcement of an invitation by Washington to a delegation led by the NCP’s deputy chairman and presidential assistant Nafie Ali Nafie last April has sparked criticism among lawmakers and activists in the US.

Some reports have speculated that the US administration cancelled the invitation under in response to this pressure.

But the NCP secretary for Europe and the Americas, Sami Faisal El-Sayed affirmed on Saturday that the visit has not been cancelled and will proceed as planned adding that those who speak about is its cancellation aim at disrupting it.

El-Sayed further disclosed in an interview with the official Sudan News Agency (SUNA) that the invitation, which he described as “a good sign to build confidence” between the parties, is the result of a dialogue between the two countries through intermediaries he did not identify .

“What is important that we received the invitation and preparations for the visit are underway”, he said.

He pointed out that the goal of the visit is to build trust between Khartoum and Washington to pave the way for a serious dialogue between the two sides.

“I cannot say that the visit will open or lead to the normalization of relations with the United States, but the goal is to build trust so that there is dialogue in various fields”, he stressed.

Khartoum wants Washington to lift the long-standing economic sanctions and to remove its name from the list of state sponsors of terror.

But Washington, in return, says Sudan should first fix the outstanding issues with the south Sudan including Abyei referendum, to achieve justice in Darfur and allow humanitarian access to the rebel-held areas in Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

(ST)