Foreign ministry hails U.S. commitment to assist Sudan

March 4, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government on Friday welcomed remarks made by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in which she said that assisting the North and South remains a priority for Washington.

Clinton delivered her testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives’ foreign affairs Committee on Tuesday to warn Congress against making cuts to the budget of the State Department or the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

She stressed to lawmakers that any such move will undermine U.S. influence in the world and upset America’s strategic interests.

Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a 16 percent cut in funding this year for the State Department and USAID. The White House and Congress are engaged in fierce debate on the best way to tame the nation’s growing deficit.

The top U.S. diplomat cited successes of Obama’s administration in different parts of the world including Sudan.

“We have worked with Northern and Southern Sudanese to achieve a peaceful referendum and prevent a return to civil war,” Clinton said.

“[This budget will help] Northern and Southern Sudan chart a peaceful future,” she added.

South Sudan voted in favor of independence during the referendum that took place last January. It will officially become the world’s newest state next July.

Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti was quoted by the official news agency (SUNA) as saying that Clinton’s assertions are a step in the right direction.

Karti called on the U.S. to continue the steps it has started such as removing Sudan from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism.

He also urged Washington to lift sanctions, normalize relations and help Sudan relieve its external debt, in light of the country fulfilling its commitment toward the North-South peace agreement.

Last November, U.S. senator John Kerry carried an offer to Khartoum which contained dropping its terrorism designation by July 2011 if Sudan ensures that the South’s referendum takes place on schedule and the results are respected.

(ST)