US special envoy snubbed by Sudanese official
February 25, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan presidential adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen refused to meet with US special envoy Richard Williamson during his visit to Khartoum according to press reports.
The newspaper quoted the Sudanese official as saying that Williamson “is not qualified to be dealt with unless he apologizes”.
The new US envoy has described the Sudanese regime as “thugs” who will “act like thugs as long as they are allowed to do so” in an article he wrote in August 2005 in Chicago-Sun Times.
In the article he wrote, Williamson said that “bilateral and multilateral action must be taken” against Khartoum.
But the former UN diplomat has maintained a low profile and avoided the media since he was tapped by Bush for the post In January.
Williamson met earlier this week with the Sudanese foreign minister Deng Alor as he began his first trip to the region since taking over for former U.S. Sudan envoy Andrew Natsios, who resigned at the end of last year.
Alor was quoted Monday, after meeting with U.S. envoy Williamson, as saying there was a timetable for normalizing ties that would include returning a U.S. ambassador in Khartoum, the lifting of at least some American sanctions, and removing the country from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.
But the US State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey dismissed any talk of a timetable.
“We expect for there to really be progress in our bilateral relations with Sudan that Sudan would remove the existing obstacles, and cooperate fully with the deployment of the UNAMID force, the combined AU and the U.N. hybrid force, and that they’d also take the kinds of concrete steps to halt violence by the Janjaweed and others in Darfur,” he said. “That’s been set out, that’s been a part of our policy for a long time.”
But the top Sudanese diplomat seems to insist on the prospects for quick normalisation of ties with the US.
Alor announced today that “technical teams” has been established between Sudan and the US to iron out the outstanding issues before the end of the year.
“Sudan has set a six months time frame to resolve all pending issues. We will work together to agree on a framework for the Darfur crisis and settle the remaining issues in the peace agreement” Alor told reporters.
The Sudanese foreign minister said that although there are some obstacles but “concession are needed from both sides to achieve the six months timeframe goal”.
(ST)
James James
US special envoy snubbed by Sudanese official
Khartoum government is the curse government that pop-up out of human blood, that is why Bashir and his brutal cabinets, don’t like American who want to bring peace, equality, justce and after all democracy where every citizen has to be treated fairly regardless of race, religion, ethnic origin, gender etc to Sudan.
Regretfully, Khartoum prefers Russian and Chinese who supply them with weapons for killing innocent people.
However, Sudan need to stop such kind of negative arrogance and better come down to democracy or ask Saddam Hussein prison guards for further instructions.
Mabior Aguek Atem
US special envoy snubbed by Sudanese official
Dear Hon. Ghazi,
Snublbing the US envoy does not means stopping US from entering into sudan, your refusal will reflect to your will though you act as an abstacles to this key Officer.
the apology from this quirk man will not really satisfy your demand better circumspects the news that he will be helpful but not ferocious one.
please Mr. Williamson and the belt ties ,bravo to continue to join hands in stopping this deadly blood fighting in Darful and all parts of the sudan which are fierced by this triggered govermment
Akol Liai Mager
US special envoy snubbed by Sudanese official
Who should apologise? And to whom? War criminals like Ghazi Salah El diin El Atabani and his Master El Bashir
should be the ones to apologise to Darfur Women, Orphans, mothers and fathers for stealing land, raping, killing and burning their properties. Mr Wlliamson was only making concession to meet war criminals for the sake of peace in Darfur otherwise there is a wide gap between civillised and Uncivillised peoples. I wish Mr El Atabani reads Sudan Tribune News and comments. Killing Furs may be easy for El Atabani and his government which is guilty of Genocide, but escaping justice is a very hard job for NIF/NCP leaders. Let wait and see what will happen to these criminals who don’t listen to anyone except those who offer them weapons to kill people.
Ahasakmoi
US special envoy snubbed by Sudanese official
If a thief broke into your house, will he/she apologise for that ?, Yes you are thugs and you must remain thugs . Williamson should not apoligise, so if not what will they do to you , if staying in Khartoum is aproblem, go and stay in Juba.
This government will never make change unless international or Israeli’s action is needed against Khartoum, they will continue to Mazzle us with our other representatives from the foreign countries whom they blackmailed. That is nonese and shame on you Khartoun.