Egypt calls Arabs to help Sudan to face challenges

Mar 11, 2006 (CAIRO) — Chairman of the Egyptian council for foreign relations Abdelrauf al-Reidi called on the Arab countries Saturday to offer political and financial assistance to Sudan to overcome the crucial challenges.

Ambassador al-Reidi told reporters the upcoming Arab summit, to be held in Khartoum on March 28-29, should back Sudan to maintain its unity and sovereignty, in addition to preventing to make the Darfur crisis an international issue.

He welcomed the African Union’s (AU) decision to extend mandate of the African forces in Darfur until next September.

This decision, added Al-Reidi, would help mediations and negotiations to end problems in Darfur.

He said the Sudanese government believed that replacing the African forces with international troops would complicate the situation on the ground.

Al-Reidi called on Arab investors to establish investment projects in Sudan to help economic and social development.

Egyptian Council for Foreign Relations is a consultative body comprises former ambassadors and specialists to help the Egyptian government to define its foreign policy.

(ST/KUNA)