Sudan says US must conduct dialogue exclusively with ruling NCP
April 3, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The US administration must establish direct channels of communication with the National Congress Party (NCP) as it is the main component of the government, a senior Sudanese official told the visiting US envoy today.
Sudan official news agency (SUNA) quoted Nafi as saying that any other dialogues Washington conducts “will not suffice”.
Nafi was likely referring to southern ex-rebel group Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) whose officials manage to meet regularly with senior US officials including former president George Bush.
The SPLM is the NCP’s main partner in the government of National Unity (GoNU) per the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that was signed in 2005.
Nafi said that the US envoy affirmed his country’s respect to the sovereignty of Sudan and his willingness to carry out dialogue with him unconditionally with a number of issues.
He also said that Sudan’s doctrine of rejecting any imposition of conditions “is known to all world countries”.
This week the US special envoy appeared to be striking a conciliatory tone with Sudan saying that he is in Sudan “to look, listen and learn”.
He added that he came “with my hands open” and hoped that Sudan’s government will respond “with a hand of friendship,” saying that “like all my American colleagues, ana ahib Sudan,” or “I love Sudan.”
The US and Sudan have a long history of strained relations. In 1997 former president Bill Clinton imposed comprehensive sanctions on Sudan and designated it as a state sponsor of terrorism.
The sanctions were later expanded and stiffened by subsequent US administrations. Moreover the US military launched a rocket attack against a pharmaceutical plant in the Sudanese capital suspected of manufacturing lethal nerve gas.
Relations further worsened over the Darfur conflict which Washington labeled as ‘genocide’ in 2004.
Nafi welcomed the “new approach” of the US administration saying that both sides will engage in “deep” discussions.
The US envoy also met with Sudanese opposition leader, Hassan Turabi but did not make statements afterwards.
Turabi speaking to reporters afterwards slammed Sudan’s decision to expel more than a dozen aid agencies last month in response to International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir last month.
“What will happen to these people? Everyone is now of course [going on about] the president [saying] ‘We should all campaign to protect our president’”.
“People in Sudan have forgotten Darfur and the human problem and the crisis” Turabi said.
This week US President Barack Obama “faces an immediate crisis” over expulsion of the groups.
“We have to figure out a mechanism to get those NGOs back in place, to reverse that decision, or to find some mechanism whereby we avert an enormous humanitarian crisis” Obama said.
However the US president did not elaborate on what other mechanisms his administration would envision revoking Sudan’s decision.
According to the United Nations, 300,000 people have died and more than 2.2 million fled their homes since ethnic minority rebels rose up against the Arab-dominated Khartoum government in February 2003.
Sudan puts the death toll from the six-year conflict at only 10,000.
(ST)
tayeb M. Alhassan
Sudan says US must conduct dialogue exclusively with ruling NCP
IT IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED; THE NEW APPROACH AND THE FINE TONE IN US DIPLOMACY TO WARDS OUR BELOVED COUNTRY SUDAN!!!
Arm-twisting or horns-breaking policy for decades proved to be unproductive for both Sudan and US if not leads to further deterioration or dead stagnancy in the mutual relations between the two countries. We understand that the ICC warrant against Sudan president is a kit in the slump legacy stuff of the former American administration which the new administrant has very carefully work in dismantle to rectify the international mutual relations and put back on the right tract.
People in Sudan have forgotten Darfur and the human problem and the crisis” Turabi said
The disaster could not be forgotten unless another big one threatens showing up ahead. ICC warrant against Sudan Presidents has almost put Sudan at stake to blowup it up in fragments unless the situation has been coped up with the people of Sudan helped by the goodwill people around the globe. The situation in Darfur subsequently overshadowed to suffer due to ICC warrant; 13 aid agencies expelled and new fresh national aid groups called and deployed to replace without former agreements or organized handover process. However fresh, they successfully performed and now doing the job with great success.
US-Sudan relations are deeply rooted in the history and still both countries in bad need to each other to build together the promising beneficial future for Africa, Middle East and US in a peaceful friendly environment.
Thanks to Mr. President OBAMA for his great understanding and open hands. Special thanks to the mew envoy and Mr. Alberto Fernandez
Thanks to the ICC man Ocambo for availing the chance for the people of Sudan to unite for the 3rd time in the history. 1st in Mahdiay revolution 2nd on the Independence Day and 3rd when the ICC warrant issued against Sudan hero president O-m-a-r H-a-s-s-a-n A-kh-m-a-d Al-Ba-sheer just like Ocambo pronounced it.
Mr. Moto Moto
Sudan says US must conduct dialogue exclusively with ruling NCP
Sudan is being held hostage by one man, Beshir. He knows exactly what the country wants, but choose not to do the right thing. Today, thousands of Sudanese are leaving in IDP and refugee camps being fed by the international community completely strip of their dignity by people possing as their brothers. It is amazing that some people cannot be moved by the death of 10,000 people (govt. statistics). How many more should die before it can be officially classified as national disaster. Al Tayeb, guys like you are the ones emboldening Beshir to continue such attrocities. How nice!
kuduhal
Sudan says US must conduct dialogue exclusively with ruling NCP
Hi HI Hi Hi.
Iam totaly disappointed by senior Sudanese official statement which said:
“US administration must establish direct channels of communication with the National Congress Party (NCP) as it is the main component of the government”
Now where is the position of SPLA?is the party not importance in meeting with special envoy and how long will the arabs negelact the SPLA and thier duties toward foreign system?
Nafi said that
“any other dialoques washington conduct will not suffice”
that is fore sure NCP party govt dominates everything including foreigners issues and these will not clear the way for peace and scurity stability and others important national issues.
Nafi Ali as president assistance doesn’t need existen of the SPLA and thier position in sudan which is not the case for washington envoy visiting.
Iam totally tied of arabs ‘s way of mistreating southerners and other non NCP party citizen and if any decision in the nation should include all the parties but not NCP party.
once Iam calling for selfderemination for south and not to waste time on unity government if nafi and others mean NCP official still carry out those discriminating statements in the country.
Amum lost his position in the government of national unity due to NCP party decision with out further negiatition with southern sudan president,
That was”Nafi Ali modelling and now washington are to be decieve by Nafi anger not to recognise thier SPLA partner on the issue
MA minus opportunity.