Norway to support southern Sudan development

Nov 19, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — The Norwegian government has affirmed that it will continue supporting the peace process in Sudan and development projects in the south.

This came during the extensive meeting in Juba between the Norwegian delegation chaired by the minister of international cooperation, Erik Solheim, and the vice-president of the southern government, Riek Machar.

In a press statement, the Norwegian minister affirmed that he would double the efforts made for the sake of helping the National Congress and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement to implement the peace agreement, and his new government’s commitment to fulfilling the pledges made by the previous government during the Oslo Conference, of donating 100m dollars through the donor fund as an implementation to the peace process.

Meanwhile, the vice-president of the southern Sudan government, Riek Machar, said that the Norwegian delegation had pledged to support the development programmes in the south, especially the training centre in Juba and to establish a communication network.

(ST)