December 9, 2008 (MOSCOW) — The Russian president Dmitry Medvedev established a new post for a special envoy to Sudan, according to state agency report.
- Russia special envoy to Sudan Mikhail Margelov
Novosti news agency said that Medvedev tapped the speaker of the upper house of the Russian parliament, Mikhail Margelov as the first envoy.
Margelov also heads the Federation Council’s Committee for International Affairs.
The appointment follows a visit by Sudan’s defense minister Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein to Moscow last month in which he invited Russian companies to invest in his country including the oil sector.
Margelov speaking to state media said that Sudanese authorities confirmed they could offer Russian companies engaged in the oil sector and railway construction in Sudan benefits to develop bilateral economic ties.
“We must expand mutually beneficial cooperation with African countries and set up a special body for that” he said.
Moscow and Khartoum enjoy strong military ties and the former has been one of the main arms suppliers to the East African nation.
The Sudanese top military official announced during his visit that they have received a new shipment of 12 MIG-29 fighter jets.
Russia has been accused by Amnesty International (AI) of supplying arms to Sudan for use in Darfur but the Russian foreign ministry denied the charge.
The veto wielding member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) has blocked sanctions against Sudan over Darfur conflict along with China.
“Russia is committed to political stability in this country, and our position is that the crisis in Sudan can be resolved only by political means” Margelov said, adding that all unresolved conflicts in Sudan and other African countries should be addressed with help, but not direct intervention, from the global community.
There are around 120 Russian personnel as part of the peacekeepers deployed in South Sudan and four Mi-8 helicopters, since 2006.
The new envoy did not indicate whether he is planning to visit Sudan in the near future.
(ST)
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