Sudanese F.M. hails French role in peace process

KHARTOUM, Feb 20, 2004 (SUNA/ST) — Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Mustafa Osman Ismail has affirmed Sudan’s welcome to France’s role in the peace process and the role that can be played by France in tackling the humanitarian situations of the displaced Sudanese citizens on the border with Chad.

Speaking in a joint press conference here Friday with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, who arrived Friday on a two-day visit to Sudan, Dr Isma’il said his talks with his French counterpart focused on the peace process in Sudan and the bilateral cooperation in the economic, commercial and political fields.

He explained that the talks tackled the situation in the Middle East, including Iraq and the occupied Palestinian territories.

The minister affirmed Sudan’s full cooperation with the international community for combating terrorism.

On the other hand, the visiting French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Mustafa Uthman Isma’il, Friday paid a visit to the water stations of block No. 26 and 27 of Umbadah and Dar-al-Salam localities, which were established by the French Action Against Hunger (Action International Contre la Faim) in collaboration with Umbadah locality.

Meanwhile, the two ministers visited the Tomb of the Al-Mahdi and Bait-al-Khalifah where they were briefed on the history of Sudan and got acquainted with the antiquities of the Al-Mahdi era.