Sudan to organise anti-sanctions conference in Geneva
July 31, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan will organise an international conference against economic sanctions imposed on the country by the United Sates, the official news agency reported on Friday.
Washington imposed economic and trade sanctions on Sudan in 1997 in response to its alleged connection to terror networks and human rights abuses. In 2007 it strengthened the embargo, citing abuses in Darfur which it labelled as genocide.
In 2010 the US announced it was easing sanctions on agriculture equipment and services which allowed half a dozen companies to obtain export licenses.
The head of the pro-government National Group for Human Rights (NGHR) Ibrahim Abdel Halim told the official news agency SUNA, they finalised all the arrangements for the launch of an international conference against US sanctions on Sudan in the margins of the annual meeting of Human Rights Council in Geneva next September.
Abdel Halim who also chairs the Higher Committee Against Unilateral Coercive Measures on Sudan further said they expect the participation of activists from different countries in the four continents.
Sudan organised a similar meeting in Geneva last year.
Since last year the US treasury department reorganised its Office of Foreign Assets Control and closely monitors the implementation of trade and economic sanction on Sudan.
As a result, different international and Arab banks become more cautious to avoid the violation of the US sanctions.
Earlier in July, Sudanese officials disclosed that the country’s strategic reserve of wheat declined sharply due to refusal of several banks in western countries and Gulf States to open documentary credits for importing the commodity.
(ST)