Sudan asks international donors to deliver money pledge

The Ethiopian Herald.

Sep 1, 2005 (Addis Adaba) — Sudan asked the international donors Tuesday to deliver their promise of providing 4.5 billion US dollars for its southern region, the official SUNA news agency reported.

Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismail made the remarks after he met EU Special Representative to the Sudan Pekka Haavisto in Khartoum, saying the European Union and other international donors should deliver their promise made at a world donor conference in Oslo, Norway, in April.

Sudanese First-Vice President Salva Kiir Mayardit also held talks with the EU official, reiterating his country’s commitment to implementing the southern Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), SUNA said.

He stressed the importance of EU’s role in helping Sudan implement the CPA, realizing stability in the country and providing conducive atmosphere for the voluntary return of the Displaced People (DP) of the south.

Sudan was embroiled in an over 20-year civil war in the south, which was virtually brought to an end when the Sudanese government and the southern rebels signed a peace deal in January in Nairobi, Kenya.

Under the sponsorship of Norway, the international community on April 11-12 pledged 4.5 billion dollars to help Sudan implement the peace agreement.