Sudan and Russia vow to boost economic cooperation
February 27, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese and Russian foreign ministers Friday pledged to work toward greater economic cooperation between the two countries.
Ibrahim Ghandour and Sergey Lavrov met on the sidelines of the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum held in the Russian capital Moscow on February 26.
The ministers “confirmed the two countries’ determination to expand broad-based bilateral cooperation, particularly in commerce and the economy, and to continue a dynamic political dialogue on key global and regional issues,” said a statement issued by the Russian foreign ministry..
Following a four- day meeting of the Sudanese-Russian Ministerial Committee for Economic, Commercial, Cultural and Technical Cooperation, on 15 December 2015 in Khartoum, Sudan and Russia signed 14 cooperation agreements in different domains, including oil, minerals and banks.
The agreements also include a concession contract between Sudan and the Russian Rus Geology to prospect for oil in Sudan’s Bloc E57 and another accord for the geological mapping of the Jabal Moya area, North Kordofan State.
The Sudanese foreign ministry said that Ghandour briefed his Russian counterpart on the recent developments in the bilateral relations between Khartoum and Juba. Further, he reiterated Sudan determination to work within the framework of the IGAD to bring peace and stability in the new nation.
In a meeting held in Moscow on 10 September Sudan and South Sudan foreign minister agreed to start implementing the Cooperation Agreement signed by their respective leaders in September 2012.
The meeting discussed the situation in the region, and Sudan’s efforts to achieve peace security, particularly in Libya, Yemen, and its efforts to narrow the gaps between Egypt and Ethiopia on the Renaissance Dam.
The Sudanese foreign ministry said Lavrov renewed the support of his country to the Sudan and “called for the lift of inhuman (economic) sanctions on the Sudanese people”.
(ST)