Arab League chief to meet Sudanese vice-president, southern rebel leade

CAIRO, June 6, 2004 (KUNA) — Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa said on Sunday that he will meet during the next few days with the Sudanese Vice-President Ali Osman Taha and Leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army John Garang to conduct talks.

Speaking to journalists Moussa indicated that talks will concentrate on the future of Sudan after signing the peace agreement yesterday in Nairobi, and on conducting consultations over the means to coordinate efforts to rebuild Sudan, as well as to accelerate offering Arab support for the rebuilding process.

Moussa confirmed the League’s keenness on lending aid Sudan, pointing out the League’s efforts to collect Arab contributions from the various Arab financial institutions and funds to support development projects in Sudan.

Meanwhile, a meeting was held today between the league’s officials chaired by Counselor Samir Hussni and a Sudanese delegation, chaired by the General Commissioner of the Humanitarian Affairs Commission, an affiliate of the Sudanese government, Dr. Sulaf Al-Din Saleh to discuss efforts to offer humanitarian assistance to Sudan.

Head of the Sudanese delegation said in a press statement that he requested the Arab League’s interference to stop the international community from trying to freeze the humanitarian and financial support offered to Sudan, under the pretext of using the money for terrorist activities.

Dr. Saleh said that the Arab financial institutions pledged to finance projects in Sudan with about two billion U.S. Dollars, indicating that so far they only received USD 200 million.