Sudan denies reports it suspended cooperation with US special envoy
November 28, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese government has dismissed media reports claiming it had decided to suspend cooperation with the United States special envoy for the Sudans, Donald Booth.
The reports quoted unnamed officials as saying that Khartoum informed Washington that any role for the US should begin with seeking to normalise bilateral ties between the two countries and address the issue of US-imposed sanctions and Sudan’s inclusion on a blacklist of states that sponsor terrorism.
It’s understood Booth had asked to hold discussions on issues around the conflicts in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.
However, officials reportedly rejected the request, saying the issues are considered domestic matters and should not be raised during talks.
The officials also noted the US’ refusal to grant Bashir a visa last September to attend the UN General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in New York, describing the decision as unjustified.
However, spokesman for the Sudanese foreign ministry, Abu Bakr al-Sideeg told pro-government Ashorooq TV that issuing a visa for the US envoy is linked to scheduling meetings for him with officials in Khartoum.
The US special envoy is currently on a tour of the surrounding region which took him to Ethiopia, Qatar and Egypt.
Ronald Hawkins, a spokesman of the US embassy in Khartoum, told al-Taghyeer newspaper that Booth will not stop in Sudan, but offered no explanation as to why.
Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti has said in the past that Booth, who was appointed last August, should come only with a clear “road map” to resolve the issues between the two countries.
“If the new US envoy has a clear roadmap for relations between Khartoum and Washington, including helping to resolve the remaining files, we welcome this role, but if he goes to other issues we will certainly move away from him”, Karti said at the time.
Sudan has been included on the US blacklist of states sponsoring terrorism since 1993 over allegations of harbouring Islamist militants, despite reports of Sudan being a cooperative intelligence partner of Washington in the so-called ‘war on terror’ over the past decade.
The East African nation has also been subject to comprehensive economic sanctions since 1997 over terrorism charges, as well as human right abuses. Further sanctions, particularly on weapons, were imposed following the 2003 outbreak of violence in the western Darfur region.
The US promised to remove Sudan’s terrorism designation if it helped facilitate South Sudan’s referendum and formally recognise its results. South Sudan voted to secede from Sudan in January 2011, declaring independence in July that year.
However, ongoing conflict in the border states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, as well as lack of progress on post-referendum matters has made Washington attach additional conditions for the de-listing process.
Despite relentless efforts by Khartoum to normalise ties, Washington has continued to renew the sanctions, although conditions have been eased in certain sectors in recent years, including agriculture.
(ST)