Arab League delegation to visit Kuwait, Gulf to promote S. Sudan

CAIRO, July 17, 2005 (KUNA) — A high-ranking Arab League delegation comprising also representatives from of the UN, the World Bank, Norway, Egypt and Sudan is set to pay visits to each of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE to promote Southern Sudan reconstruction projects and programs.

Director of the Arab League’s Arab-African Cooperation Department Samir Hosni also said in remarks to the press that the delegation would make the visits within a month time and would hold meetings with senior officials of these countries.

He added that such projects aim also at posing the unity of Sudan as a strategic choice of all Sudanese citizens.

The official also said that the Arab League has been pushing development and reconstruction efforts in the the war-torn Arab African country, and that four meetings of Arab funds and finance firms have resulted in the start of financing reconstruction projects in Sudan at a cost of about USD 200 million.

He added, the League would open an office the southern Sudanese city of Juba. He mentioned that Egypt has shown readiness to donate one million pounds (about USD 0.2 million) and carry out projects at a cost of USD 2 million.

Qatar, he added, has also announced a USD 1.5 million donation for reconstruction effort in Sudan.