American special representative meets Sudanese officials
Aug 20, 2005 (Khartoum) — The American special representative to Sudan Roger Winter started talks Saturday with Khartoum government’s officials over the peace process in the African country, and exerted efforts aiming to settle armed conflicts in the western war-torn region of Darfur and eastern Sudan.
During talks with State Minister of the Foreign Ministry Najeeb al Khair, Winter said that his visit to Sudan was in accordance with instructions from the American state department to follow up the peace agreement implementation process in light of recent developments in the country.
He also said that he aimed, through his visit, to acknowledge Khartoum government’s visions over the transitional phase and its plans to contain conflicts in Darfur and eastern Sudan. The US-official also said that he was scheduled to meet with Sudanese officials over US-potential contributions in this regard.
For his part, Khair said the peace agreement gave the Washington-Khartoum relations a new boost towards improving ties and attaining “complete normalization,” indicating that the US played a special role in terms of achieving the peace treaty. The Sudanese official called for more bilateral diplomatic contacts in an attempt to reach “mutual understanding” on topics of joint interests, praising growing recent contacts between Sudan and the US.
He said that Khartoum was ready to cooperate with Washington to develop their relations based on mutual interests.
Winter had arrived in the country yesterday for one week visit to follow up on the peace agreement’s implementation and on achieving comprehensive peace in Sudan, in the aftermath of the death of John Garang, head of Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) earlier this month. The agreement was signed by Khartoum and SPLA last January.
The American State Department had appointed Roger Winter as special US representative to Sudan on July 26 this year.
Winter had played a key role in negotiations that eased tension in Sudan. He represented Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick as his special envoy in the African state.
His task in the country included keeping track of advancing the achievement of America’s goals for Sudan.
Winter was a member of the US team that helped to negotiate the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in January and also played a role in an April 2004 cease-fire struck for Darfur.
KUNA/ST