Rice visits Sudan on Wednesday to review peace process

KHARTOUM, July 17, 2005 (KUNA) — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will commence a two-day visit to Sudan on Wednesday to review the current peace process and Darfur’s situation, said Sunday Sudan’s Foreign Minister-designate Mustafa Ismail.

In a press statement, Ismail said Rice’s visit was called upon by the US administration to evaluate the overall aspects of the peace process and discuss bilateral ties through meetings with President Umar Al-Bashir, First Vice-President John Garang, African Union (AU) and local officials.

While hoping that Rice’s visit would strongly boost bilateral relations on basis of mutual respect and cooperation, Ismail explained that relations would only be normalized after the US lifts all sanctions against Sudan and removes it from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism.