Sudan rules out change of policy toward Israel

KHARTOUM, Feb 27, 2005 (Xinhua) — The Sudanese government ruled out on Sunday any changes of its stance toward Israel.

Secretary General for the Sudanese ruling National Congress Ibrahim Ahmed Omar told reporters that his government’s stance toward Israel “is clearly known and there is not anything new in it.”

He stressed that the stance would not be influenced by the peace agreement his government signed with the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Jan. 9, ending a 20-year-old civil war in the south.

Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom disclosed recently that his government had been making contacts with some Arab countries including Sudan in order to establish diplomatic relations with them.

Omar said the arrival of John Garang, the SPLM’s leader, in Khartoum to share power under the peace agreement would not affect the proclaimed stance toward Israel.

He pointed out that Garang would be restricted by the national policies agreed on by the Nairobi peace agreement.

The Sudanese government often accused Israel of giving SPLM logistical and military support in a bid to “divide” Sudan and the Arab world but SPLM rejected any connection with Israel.