Sudanese Foreign minister starts 10-day visit to France, Belgium

June 12 (KHARTOUM) –The Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol, left on Monday evening for Paris at the outset of a ten-day European tour that will also take him also to Belgium.

In France, the minister would meet the French Foreign Minister, the French Minister of International Cooperation and Development and the Francophone, Advisor of President Chirac for African Affairs, Senior MPs of the French Parliament, UNESCO Director General and representatives of some French companies.

Akol would brief the French officials on progress of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), and the importance that the donors fulfill their commitments they made in Oslo donor conference.

The minister is also to acquaint the French officials with the latest developments in Darfur issue, namely following the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) along with the importance of cooperation of the international community in implementing it.

The minister, as well, would acquaint the French officials with the ongoing endeavors to solve eastern Sudan issue and the issue of the Lord Resistance Army (LRA), he said.

Akol would discuss bilateral relations and the issues of mutual concern.

Sudanese Foreign Minister would discuss with the Belgian officials bilateral relations and Sudan’s relations with the European Union (EU), saying that the Sudanese-European dialogue, which started in 1999, has greatly contributed to finding a common understanding in the different mutual issues.

The minister would also discuss with the Belgian officials how the EU may support in tackling Sudan’s foreign debts.

(ST)