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Sudan Tribune

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Sudan urges Washington to remove economic sanctions

August 11, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan has minimised statements that Washington will mobilise international community to contribute to plug a part of Sudan’s debt and urged it to remove sanctions.

A Western diplomat recently explained to the Financial Times that Washington because of the sanctions cannot contribute to the international effort to file Sudan’s financial gap as it is agreed in a donors’ conference after the signing of the 2005 peace agreement.

He pointed out that U.S. administration will encourage Sudan’s friends like Qatar and Kuwait and China to step in. He also added that washington would waive sanctions preventing dollar transfers.

Sudan’s foreign ministry spokesperson Al-Obeid Morawah ruled out any deal with the US administration over this issue adding that any American move in this respect should be seen as being part of international community efforts to fulfil its commitments.

If Washington want to undertake a positive move towards Sudan , it must be a lifting of economic sanctions, he said.

Al-Obeid further urged Washington to push to hold “a donors’ conference in Istanbul, which has been delayed as a result of U.S. pressure,” he added.

Last March, Washington to force Khartoum to allow humanitarian access to the rebel held areas in South Kordofan and Blue Nile pressured the organisers – Turkey, Norway and the United Kingdom – to postpone a donors’ meeting to support Sudan after the secession of South Sudan.

Earlier this month Washington decided to keep Sudan in its terror list despite its acknowledgement that Sudanese government is a “cooperative counterterrorism partner”. It is also expected to renew economic sanctions on next November.

US officials initially said sanctions give them a leverage to pressure Khartoum to implement outstanding issues with South Sudan and to resolve Darfur crisis.

But some officials in Washington like Princeton Lyman, US special envoy for Sudan admit the need to review this position as the deterioration of bilateral relations prevents them from having a proactive role in Sudan’s crisis.

Government officials used to explain, in their public statements, the economic difficulties in the country by the US sanctions, and accuse Washington of working to topple the Islamic regime in Sudan.

(ST)

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