Sudan invites Annan to attend interim govt celebrations

NEW YORK, June 28, 2005 (SUNA) — President of the Republic Omer Al-Bashir, has invited the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, to attend Sudan celebrations which will mark the beginning of the interim period.

UN SG Kofi Annan shakes hands with Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Khartoum Sudan, May 27, 2005. (AFP).

The invitation was conveyed Monday evening by Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail to the UN Secretary General in New York.

In a statement to SUNA, Sudan’s Deputy Representative to the UN, Ambassador Omer Bashir, said that the Foreign Minister has acquainted Kofi Annan with implementation of the peace agreement and the preparations for the interim period, which will begin on July 9.

He said that invitations were extended to Presidents of neighbouring countries and African leaders to attend the important occasion.

He said that Annan has expressed thanks to President Al-Bashir for the invitation, appreciating the efforts exerted till now for implementation of the peace agreement.

He said that the Foreign Minister hand Annan a copy of Sudan’s complaint to the Security Council over the hostilities of Eritrea against Sudan.

He indicated that Ismail also discussed with the UN Secretary General the situation in Darfur and progress of the current negotiations in Abuja, under auspices of the African Union.

Ambassador Bashir said that the Foreign Minister expressed optimism that the two parties in Abuja will reach agreement on the Declaration of Principles despite some difficulties which are confronting the negotiations.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Minister met in New York the representatives of Britain, Algeria, Russia, China and Tanzania to the United Nations and discussed issues of peace, the situation in Darfur and Sudan complaint against Eritrea.

Ismail left New York on Monday evening for the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.