Sudan’s parliament speaker says he discussed dialogue with US officials
September 11, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s parliamentary speaker, Ibrahim Ahmed Omer, said he discussed national dialogue and peace issues with official from the US States Department on the sidelines of the world parliament speakers’ conference.
He told the official news agency (SUNA) that Sudan’s delegation has presented the government’s view on national dialogue, peace and liberties issues in accordance with Sudan’s higher interests.
The Sudanese delegation was headed by Omer and included the former speaker Ahmed Ibrahim al-Taher, deputy speaker of the State Council Ibrahim Habani, three other MPs and administrative staff members.
The National Assembly speaker disclosed that he discussed with several American organs concerned with the African affairs the efforts made by the Sudanese government to achieve peace and ensure success of the national dialogue.
Also Omer said he discussed with officials from the US States Department several issues of concern to Sudan.
“We hope that the visit of the national legislative body delegation to Washington had participated in promoting the government stance on dialogue and peace issues before the US administration,” he added.
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.
Furthermore, Sudan was placed on the US terrorism list in 1993 over allegations it was harbouring Islamist militants working against regional and international targets.
Meanwhile, Omer said the conference works were focused on the discussion of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which will be launched which by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) summit on September 25 th.
He said that Sudan presented a vision underscoring importance of the parliaments’ role in overseeing sustainable development during the coming fifteen tears, stressing the need for coordination among the parliaments on development which became an issue of interest for the whole world.
The parliament speaker said that development is a fundamental issue in Sudan, noting that national dialogue and government reform are among priorities to complete the sustainable development.
The three-day conference has adopted a draft declaration, titled “Placing democracy at the service of peace and sustainable development: Building the world the people want”.
The conference called to deploy greater efforts “in solving conflicts through political dialogue and negotiations, with full respect for international law”
(ST)