US says no request made to revoke sanctions on Sudanese company
By: Wasil Ali
August 16, 2007 (WASHINGTON) — The US has denied that it sent a recommendation to Washington requesting a revocation of sanctions imposed on a Sudanese company.
A US State department official speaking to Sudan Tribune on condition of anonymity said that “no such request was made by our envoy in Khartoum”.
The Al-Sahafa daily has reported that the Chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, Alberto M. Fernandez sent a letter to the CEO of Sheikan Insurance company Osman Ibrahim saying that he has called on his government to revoke sanctions imposed on it.
President Bush imposed new sanctions last May against the Sudanese government in reaction to the violence in Darfur, preventing 31 of its companies and two officials from doing business in the United States or with U.S. companies.
Last month Ibrahim met with Fernandez and protested against the US sanctions imposed on Sheikan. Ibrahim told the US diplomat that his company provides insurance coverage to humanitarian convoys working in Darfur.
It was reported at the time that Fernandez has promised that he will try to remove Shaikan from the list of Sudanese companies designated for sanctions.
However the State department official told Sudan Tribune that Fernandez received a letter from Shaikan requesting sanctions removal which he forwarded it on to the US Treasury “as is”.
US sanctions on Sudan go back to 1997 when Clinton’s administration issued an order prohibiting the imports of Sudanese goods or exports of US technology and goods to the East African nation because of the country’s alleged support of international terrorist activities.
(ST)