Sudan forecasts better relations with US

Oct 21, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan welcomed a U.S. assistant secretary of state Thursday, saying relations between Washington and the new government of national unity in Sudan were bound to improve.

Jendayi Frazer, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for african affairs, arrived in Khartoum for a three-day visit that will include a trip to Juba, the main city in southern Sudan where peace was restored in January after more than 20 years of war.

“The government is seriously looking for better relations with America under the new atmosphere created by the peace agreement,” Foreign Minister Lam Akol told reporters. “The climate is ripe now for new relations based on serious discussion with the visiting American delegation.”

The United Nations and the United States have imposed various sanctions on Sudan, with the U.N. Security Council accusing its government of failing to do enough to stop the violence in the western region of Darfur.

Earlier Thursday, Sudan’s government and Darfur rebels wrapped up a sixth round of peace talks in Nigeria, saying they would reconvene in a month. At least 180,000 people have died and more than 2 million people have been dispaced since the fighting began in Darfur in early 2003.

Akol said a joint delegation from the government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, the former southern rebels, would take new ideas to next month’s peace talks on the Darfur crisis.

Last month Sudan inaugurated a government of national unity that comprised representatives of the ruling party of President Omar al-Bashir as well as SPLM and other opposition groups.

The Darfur conflict started after members of ethnic African tribes took up arms, complaining of neglect and discrimination by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum.

(AP/ST)