Egypt’s FM says Sudan sanctions complicate situation

May 25, 2007 (CAIRO) — Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit Friday said imposing sanctions against Sudan for the Darfur issue would further complicate the situation, the official news agency MENA reported Friday.

“Sanctions never achieve political targets,” said Abul Gheit, adding that he has informed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of Egypt’s stance on Sudan.

Meanwhile Abul Gheit denied reports that Cairo would host a meeting attended by representatives of armed groups in Sudan’s Darfur region.

Instead, the meeting will be held in the southern Sudanese city of Juba, he said, without giving the exact date of the meeting.

Abul Gheit said Juba will also host an international conference to be attended by representatives the UN, the African Union, world major powers and Sudan’s neighboring countries.

Egypt, like most of Arab nations, was opposed to any sanction on Sudan over the Darfur issue, he said.

But some members of the UN Security Council, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom, have been discussing imposing sanctions against Sudan for the Darfur issue.

(Xinhua)