Sudanese vice president hails Bush support for peace?
KHARTOUM, Oct. 2003 28 (KUNA) — Sudanese Vice President Ali Othman Taha praised on Tuesday the efforts of the U.S. President George W. Bush in supporting the peace process in Sudan.
Taha said during a meeting with the visiting director of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Andrew Natsios, that the Sudanese government believes peace was an irrevocable strategic option.
Sudanese Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamed told reporters that Natsios has informed Taha on the USAID plans to support Darfour and eastern Sudan homeless, and the plans for post-war development and reconstruction.
He mentiond that Taha stressed on a clear agreement regarding the U. S. aid for the post-war era. Natsios, mentioned Hamed, has undertaken to double the USAID humanitarian assistance for the war and the flood victims in the Sudan.
Hamed also said the USAID has sent 16,000 tons of food commodities to the Sudan and promised to double that amount in the future.
Natsios has arrived to the Sudanese capital last Sunday for a 5-day visit to explore ways for boosting bilateral cooperation and the achievements of the USAID program in Sudan, and the country’s needs for post-war reconstruction efforts.