PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Top US official gives conditions for normalized relations with Sudan
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - A visiting US official has said he expects relations between Khartoum and Washington to improve noticeably when Sudan officially accepts and endorses the outcome of the referendum in which southerners have clearly opted for secession.
The US Deputy Secretary of the State, James Steinberg, held a series of meetings here Wednesday with senior officials in the Sudanese government, including Presidential Assistant, the Foreign Minister, and presidential advisor on Security and Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, at which they reviewed bilateral relations and the latest developments in the Sudan
“I reiterated what many of my senior officials have said which is the enormous appreciation for the leadership that has been shown here in moving forward with the referendum that is enormously successful and peaceful and open process” Steinberg told them.
The American official stressed that his country was pleased with the developments in the Sudan and the process of the implementation of the Comprehensive peace agreement (CPA).
The Assistant to the President, Dr. Nafie Ali Nafie, said the American's visit “reflects a clear sign of the improvement of the relations with the US." according to the Sudan News Agency (SUNA).
The US official said both the US Secretary of the State and President Obama "have stressed that this was an opportunity to move down the path for stronger and more positive relations between the two countries and moving step by step and deepen our ties and to work together in common challenges that we face.”
He said his discussions with government officials included the question of Abyei and Darfur and how important it was to take steps to facilitate humanitarian access and improve security and reach a peaceful solution for the question.
“Our hope is to see a prosperous future for Sudan and how we could work together to create economic opportunities for properties for citizens here,” Steinberg said.
The American administration has repeatedly stressed that carrying out the referendum successfully and accepting the results would be an advance step towards the normalization of relations with the Sudan.
It is also expected to help the administration remove the Sudan from the list of countries it considered sponsors of terrorism.
Earlier in the day, the Southern Sudan referendum commission (SSRC) announced the overall results of the referendum including northern Sudan and the diasporas, with 98.93 % voting for separation and 1.17% voting for unity.
If no complaints were raised, the commission will announced the final results on 7 February.
But if complaints are raised, the final and conclusive official results would be announced 15 February.
Steinberg is due in Juba, southern Sudan, for a meeting with the First Vice President of the Republic, Gen Salva Kiir Mayardit.
-0- PANA OM/VAO 2Feb2011
The US Deputy Secretary of the State, James Steinberg, held a series of meetings here Wednesday with senior officials in the Sudanese government, including Presidential Assistant, the Foreign Minister, and presidential advisor on Security and Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, at which they reviewed bilateral relations and the latest developments in the Sudan
“I reiterated what many of my senior officials have said which is the enormous appreciation for the leadership that has been shown here in moving forward with the referendum that is enormously successful and peaceful and open process” Steinberg told them.
The American official stressed that his country was pleased with the developments in the Sudan and the process of the implementation of the Comprehensive peace agreement (CPA).
The Assistant to the President, Dr. Nafie Ali Nafie, said the American's visit “reflects a clear sign of the improvement of the relations with the US." according to the Sudan News Agency (SUNA).
The US official said both the US Secretary of the State and President Obama "have stressed that this was an opportunity to move down the path for stronger and more positive relations between the two countries and moving step by step and deepen our ties and to work together in common challenges that we face.”
He said his discussions with government officials included the question of Abyei and Darfur and how important it was to take steps to facilitate humanitarian access and improve security and reach a peaceful solution for the question.
“Our hope is to see a prosperous future for Sudan and how we could work together to create economic opportunities for properties for citizens here,” Steinberg said.
The American administration has repeatedly stressed that carrying out the referendum successfully and accepting the results would be an advance step towards the normalization of relations with the Sudan.
It is also expected to help the administration remove the Sudan from the list of countries it considered sponsors of terrorism.
Earlier in the day, the Southern Sudan referendum commission (SSRC) announced the overall results of the referendum including northern Sudan and the diasporas, with 98.93 % voting for separation and 1.17% voting for unity.
If no complaints were raised, the commission will announced the final results on 7 February.
But if complaints are raised, the final and conclusive official results would be announced 15 February.
Steinberg is due in Juba, southern Sudan, for a meeting with the First Vice President of the Republic, Gen Salva Kiir Mayardit.
-0- PANA OM/VAO 2Feb2011
