U.S. diplomat discusses normalization with Sudanese officials

July 17, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The U.S. charge d’affaires in Sudan Robert E. Whitehead met on Sunday with presidential adviser Ghazi Salah Al-Deen for talks on the roadmap for normalization of ties between the two countries.

The outgoing top U.S. diplomat in Sudan conveyed to al-Deen Washington’s relief with the peace accord signed in Doha this week between Khartoum and a single Darfur rebel group.

U.S. president Barack Obama has pledged to normalize relations with Sudan which would start with removing the country’s name from the list of terrorism sponsors. At a later stage this would also include lifting economic sanctions and upgrading diplomatic representation.

Sudan has fulfilled one of the conditions which is recognizing the independence of South Sudan that became official last week.

But Washington appeared to attach more criteria to its earlier promise which is completion of implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) particularly concluding post-secession arrangements and ending the fighting in South Kordofan.

Both states have yet to agree on contentious items such as oil-sharing, citizenship, national debt, international agreements and border demarcation.

The spokesperson of Sudan foreign ministry Al-Ebeid Mirwah expressed pessimism about the prospects of a quick normalization saying that this will not happen overnight.

The U.S. special envoy to Sudan Princeton Lyman has told a congressional committee this week that negotiations need to move quickly particularly with regard to oil.

“We are urging the parties to quickly return to the negotiating table in the coming days and set a firm deadline for completing this unfinished business” Lyman said in prepared remarks before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

He noted that U.S. has taken several steps towards normalizing ties but said that going to the next level will require certain steps from Sudan.

“We have laid out a roadmap to normalize our bilateral relations and taken initial steps in that direction. In February, following a successful referendum, the President began the process of reviewing Sudan’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. Last month, the President dispatched Deputy National Security Advisor John Brennan to Khartoum to discuss this review and to demonstrate our commitment to this process. Additionally, we have been actively involved in the World Bank technical working group to review the process for Sudan’s debt relief. We have also approved licenses for several American companies wishing to participate in agricultural development in the north”.

“However, we can only move forward with improved bilateral relations, as outlined in the roadmap, if the Government of Sudan fulfills its obligations under the CPA and demonstrates its commitment to peace within its borders and with its neighbors. A failure to reach a cessation of hostilities will negatively impact this process. U.S. government action to lift remaining U.S. economic sanctions and to request legislative assistance with the removal of applicable foreign assistance restrictions also will be dependent on Sudanese actions in Darfur. We will expect to see concrete actions on humanitarian access, freedom of movement for UNAMID peacekeepers, engagement in peace talks, an end to the use of proxy militias and targeting of civilians, and an improvement in justice and accountability so the reign of impunity in Darfur does not continue. This is not just the position of the United States. It is also the view of other members of the international community and international creditors”

Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir in his speech at Southern Sudan independence ceremony urged Obama to lift sanctions on his country that dates back to the early 90’s.

(ST)