Sudanese president invited to donor conference in Oslo

KHARTOUM, March 16, 2005 (Xinhua) — Sudanese foreign minister announced Wednesday that President Omar el-Bashir had received an invitation from the Norwegian government to attend a donor conference due in Oslo on April 11-12.

A number of Sudanese officials were also invited, however, it has not been decided whether Bashir will attend the conference or not, Mustafa Othman Ismail said in a press release. He added that the government would present urgent development projects and reconstruction programs to the donors at the conference.

Welcoming help from the European Union after the signature of the peace deal with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in January, Ismail urged the bloc to exert more efforts in rebuilding the largest African country.

The minister also called upon the international community to fulfill its commitments and deliver food to the needy people in Sudan’s western Darfur region, while urging donor countries to hel the government in relief work in the region.