Sudan ready to offer benefits for Russian oil companies

November 17, 2008 (MOSCOW) — Sudan is ready to offer Russian companies working in the oil sector and railway construction in Sudan benefits to develop bilateral economic cooperation, a Sudanese official said on Monday.

“Sudan must become the gate for Russia into Africa as a country, which borders nine countries, has a varied climate and ample natural resources,” Osman Mudawi, chairman of foreign affairs committee of the Sudanese parliament, said at a meeting with his counterpart Mikhail Margelov in Moscow.

Russia delayed somewhat in the resumption of its presence in Africa and the Middle East, the Sudanese official further said according to the RIA Novosti.

Mudawi further said that Sudan does not see Russia’s economic partner only and, but an ally to security. He pointed out that there are some areas on the African continent in which Russian soldiers take part in peacekeeping operations, including Darfur.

The Russian official, Margelov, stressed that Russia sees that all the problems in Sudan and African countries that suffering from internal conflicts should be solved with the help of the international community but without direct intervention.

(ST)