Sudan’s foreign minister starts new European tour in March

March 2, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese foreign minister, Ibrahim Ghandour in mid-March, will start a new European tour, including Germany, Poland, and Switzerland to discuss illegal immigration and Syrian refugees.

Ghandour told the official news agency SUNA on Wednesday that he will visit Germany on March 15, where he will meet his German counterpart and a number of officials in Berlin. Following what, he will head to Warsaw to meet the Polish President Andrzej Sebastian Duda. He will conclude his tour by a series of meetings on the issue of refugees in Switzerland at the At the invitation of UN Secretary-General.

Two weeks ago, Ghandour was in Brussels where he held successful discussions with the EU officials on the illegal migration. During his visit the EU commission announced the allocation of a 100 million euro package to support Sudan to address root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons.

Also, he discussed with the EU officials a number of issues including the economic sanctions imposed by Washington on Sudan, cancellation of Sudan’s foreign debt besides helping Sudan to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The minister said that the most important result of his last visit to Europe is to open direct contact with the EU and the agreement on a new strategy between the two sides, especially with regard to migration issues and ways to support Sudan on the debt issue and to join the World Trade Organization.

The international community is now aware of Sudan’s important role in the region. Sudan is Sudan is most stable country in this region and has a large and important political role, also has a very important role in the regional peace and security,” Ghandour said.

PRAISING GERMAN SUPPORT

In a related development, Ghandour met Wednesday with the German state secretary for economic cooperation and development, Thomas Silberhorn, who is visiting Sudan nowadays.

During a meeting with the First Vice President Bakri Hassan Saleh on Tuesday, Silberhorn announced his government’s decision to grant 51 million Euro to the Sudanese government in support of its efforts to host refugees and displaced people in eastern Sudan.

The Sudanese foreign minister praised the German support to Sudan, particularly the funding of projects aimed to help refugees and displaced people in Kassala state, in the areas of health, education, vocational training and the fight against poverty.

For his part, the German official announced his government his decision to increase its support for projects in eastern Sudan through the IGAD to ten million Euro.

The meeting dealt with the situation in Libya and the ongoing efforts to reach a solution to the political crisis in the north African nation.

The meeting was attended by the IGAD deputy executive secretary Mohamed Musa.

(ST)