US Senators Durbin, Brown met with Mutrif Sidiq
February 19, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – Two US lawmakers, Senators Richard Durbin and Sherrod Brown, met with the Undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mutrif Sidiq.
The visit by the two Democratic Party lawmakers coincides with one by the presidential envoy Scott Gration. This follows two senatorial delegations that visited in April and May last year, including one headed by former Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts.
Having been in Juba on Wednesday for talks with Southern Sudanese officials, the US congressional delegation arrived Thursday in Khartoum.
They were received by Undersecretary Sidiq. In this meeting the government demanded that the United States exert additional efforts in order to achieve peace in Sudan and help the parties to enforce the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said at a press briefing.
Official media had earlier reported that the senators were expected to meet presidential advisor Ghazi Salah Al Deen, who is the official in charge of the Darfur peace process for the government. The Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported this, citing the deputy head of the US Desk at the Foreign Ministry Tariq Abu Saleh.
Ghazi is a regular point of contact with American envoys. He met in August 2009 with US Congressman Keith Ellison, a Democratic Party politician from Minnesota. Last month Rep. Ellison met with a delegation of Sudanese officials that included prominent members of the National Congress Party, according to a source in Washington.
Ghazi’s meeting with Senators Durbin and Brown did not take place due to a delayed schedule, a source in Khartoum affirmed.
“The U.S. delegation expressed a clear interest in the course of the electoral process and related technical aspects, and addressing the Darfur conflict and expressed hope that there would be a road to move forward in order to improve the Sudanese-American relations,” SUNA reported on the meeting with Sidiq.
Senator Durbin described the meeting as fruitful, said SUNA. He noted that his country continued to provide aid to the people of the Sudan and that the Darfur issue is of great interest in the US and around the world.
Senator Durbin is the Assistant Majority Leader of the upper-house of the American national legislature. His visit to Sudan is part of a tour to Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Juba and Khartoum. A statement from his office said that his purpose is to examine US foreign assistance programs in the region, focusing on health, maternal and infant mortality, clean water, sanitation, refugees, and economic development.
The statement added “the Senators will also discuss regional peacekeeping and diplomatic issues.”
Senators Durbin and Brown met Wednesday with President of the Government of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit.
Initial travel plans called for the senators to return on Friday, February 19. There departure was confirmed as of Friday morning.
(ST)