Sudan urges US to lift sanctions

Oct 16, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — The chargé d’affaires at the Sudanese embassy in Washington, Khidir Haroun, was quoted by the press as urging the American administration to honour pledge it made and lift economic sanctions against Sudan.

In a press statement to the Khartoum based Al Ray Alaam newspaper, Haroum said that it was time for the US to lift the sanctions it imposed on Sudan immediately, especially after it was not considered a point of discussion between the two countries and they were no more pending issues between them.

Sudan has been on a US list of countries accused of supporting international terror since 1993, Washington first placed an economic embargo against Khartoum in November 1997 under the National Emergencies Act.

He further said that Khartoum was waiting for the USA to honour the pledges it made after the realization of peace.

The Sudanese envoy said USA had acknowledged that Sudan was cooperating with it as well as the international community in combating terror.

He went on to say that the ball was now on the side of the USA in regard to developing its relations with Sudan after the appreciated role it played in helping Sudan reach the peace agreement and was now playing an honoured role in providing humanitarian aid to Darfur.

The UN Security Council will in two weeks decide on the sanctions imposed on Sudan since 1996.

Ambassador Khidir Haroun said that the Security Council had three options: Renewal of sanctions for a further period, lifting them completely or reducing them.

Haroun considered the recent statements of the Security Council in which it condemned Darfur rebels groups and held them responsible [for the recent cease-fire violations] as a development on the stance of the international community and urged the Security Council to continue condemning the rebels by going against them and ordering them to negotiate.