Sudan is keen to establish positive ties with USA – official

Aug 10, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan said is interested to establish positive relations with the United States based on the mutual interest understanding, cooperation and permanency.

The State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Al-Samani Al-Wasila Al-Samani, told the state-run SUNA that conditions which affected the relations between Khartoum and Washington are no more existing.

He said that the US sanctions against Sudan were imposed in certain conditions which are not prevalent currently.

In October 1997, the U.S. imposed comprehensive economic, trade and financial sanctions against Sudan in response to its alleged connection to terror networks and human rights abuses. Further sanctions, particularly on weapons, have been imposed since the 2003 outbreak of violence in the western Darfur region..

He said that Sudan is a country of substantial potentialities and capabilities, a matter which qualify it to play a major role at the regional and international levels, and to contribute to the prevalence of security and stability in the region through the method of dialogue.

The minister acknowledged that the United States is an effective country in the world and contributed to the project for realization of peace in Sudan through the recent negotiations in Naivasha, Kenya.

He did not rule out the exchange of visits between Sudanese and American officials, especially of the increase in the size of the American diplomatic mission in Sudan.

Al-Wasila said that the level of diplomatic representation in both Khartoum and Washington is expected to be upgraded to the levels of ambassadors.

Laast week, Sudan asked Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade on Saturday to help improve its relations with the United States, soured by Khartoum’s refusal to accept U.N. peacekeepers in the volatile Darfur region.

(ST)