EU to resume development aid to Sudan

KHARTOUM, June 19, 2004 (SUNA) — The government of Sudan has received a pledge from the European Union (EU) that it will sign the country’s paper on support to the strategic development programme, after the signing of the final peace agreement in Sudan.

This was announced by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Najib al-Khayr Abd-al-Wahhab who hoped that the peace agreement will lead to restoration of stability in Darfur.

He said that the European Union affirmed the resumption of its development aid to Sudan after the signing of the final peace agreement immediately.

He said that the European Union Commission explained that Sudan could benefit from the resources of the European Union Investment Bank to fund private and public sectors.

The minister expected that the European Union’s development aid would be resumed in next July, while and the country’s frozen assets, estimated at 450m euros, would be freed, besides paving the way for the funding of development projects in Sudan, as part of the European Union’s development cooperation with East Africa and the African-Caribbean Pacific Group.