Sudan calls US Obama to engage dialogue to normalise relations

November 5, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan, which the United States brands a state sponsor of terrorism, expressed welcomed the election of Barack Obama and called him to engage dialogue to normalise bilateral relations and inject real change into strained relations.

Sudan has been on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism since 1993 and subject to U.S. economic sanctions since 1997. The US Administration declared since September 2004 that genocide has been committed in Darfur.

In a welcoming statement issued Wednesday the Sudanese foreign ministry expressed hope that “the presidential tenure of Barak Obama would witness positive contributions to the regional and international issues instead of the policy of arrogance and hostility and disrespect to the sovereignty of states and the international law.”

“We would hope that the slogan of president Obama – ‘change’ – would be reflected in the foreign policy in the United States, especially towards Sudan and oppressed countries, the Palestinians, the Iraqis and the Somalis, said foreign ministry spokesperson Ali al-Sadiq.

“We would like to see some real change between Sudan and the United States,” he further said.

He called the elected president to engage dialogue with the Sudanese government in order to normalise bilateral relations. “We want to exchange interests and to work together, “Sadiq said.

The outgoing administration halted talks on the left of economic sanctions and normalisations of bilateral ties saying it is difficult to envisage how progress can be made without real changes for the better in Darfur.

(ST)