Sudan denies any Qatari role in national dialogue process
July 9, 2014 (KHARTOUM) –Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti denied on Wednesday that president Omer Hassan al-Bashir’s visit to Doha was linked to any potential Qatari role in the ongoing national dialogue process.
Sudan’s top diplomat said the two leaders discussed a comprehensive review of their bilateral relations, especially in economic and investment fields and joint projects carried out in Sudan in the fields of agriculture, real estate, mining, electricity and tourism.
The total volume of Qatari investments in Sudan is estimated at $2 billion and is expected to jump to more than $4 billion after the entry of the Qatar Mining Company with investments amounting to more than $2 billion.
The Qatari investments in Sudan include 18 projects, 6 of which are in the industrial sector, 11 in the service sector and one in the agricultural sector.
Karti also denied that that a visit by the Qatari Foreign Minister Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah to Khartoum on Sunday and later to Kampala is linked to a mediation move by Doha between Khartoum and Kampala.
He stressed that the visit of al-Attiyah to Khartoum was arranged in advance in order to launch a major new investment project in the meat sector that both countries will benefit from.
He pointed out that al-Attiyah was presented during the visit by several projects that have been discussed between Sheikh Tamim and Bashir in tourism, energy and meat sectors.
He noted that there are a lot of joint investment projects between the two countries and a real economic partnership, underscoring that the visit was to follow up on these projects and open more opportunities for Qatari investments in Sudan.
Bashir also addressed Sudanese expatriates in Doha on political developments in the country and the national dialogue process.
It was reported by the deputy head of Sudanese expatriates in Doha al-Tayeb Hammad that Bashir did not discuss upcoming legislative and presidential elections and whether he will run again for a new term.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Sudanese leader met with Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal in Doha and reiterated his country’s support of the Palestinian cause and the legitimate right of their people to establish their own state.
Mashaal briefed Bashir on developments at Gaza Strip in light of the ongoing Israeli offensive and expressed gratitude to support extended by Khartoum to the Palestinian cause at the international and regional forums.
Karti said that Bashir and Sheikh Tamim had similar views on the Gaza situation and the hope that Arabs will move quickly in response.
(ST)