Maher confers with Sudanese information minister on Durban conference
Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 9/8/2001

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher met on Thursday with Sudanese Information Minister Mahdi Ibrahim Muhammad who is currently on a visit to Egypt.

In statement following the meeting, Muhammad said the meeting took up various issues of cooperation between the two countries, the outcome of the third World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) in South Africa, and Arab support of the African stance and its impact on the issues concerning racism.

The Sudanese Minister said the withdrawal of Israel and the US from the conference was considered a withdrawal from the individual, collective and international responsibility.

He pointed out that the American withdrawal from the conference in favour of Israel was not a sound stance for the first major power the whole world had hoped would stand by justice, equality and fairness.

Muhammed added that although the American stance was disappointing, it was not a surprise for those who knew the reality of international complications and the US stance regarding issues raised.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni spoke of the Arabs and Muslims in Sudan and allegedly said they were practicing forms of racism.

The Sudanese minister described Museveni's statements as reflecting a skewed stance from a president of an African country at a time when all African countries were campaigning against Israeli racism and seeking to set up the scales of justice.

Regarding the Egyptian-Libyan initiative on Sudan, the Sudanese minister said the initiative is still viable. He stressed that both Libya and Egypt were exerting the utmost efforts to reach a solution.

The coming two days will witness intensive moves in this respect, he added.

He said Washington has announced that it would extend $ 30 million in assistance to Sudan.

On the other hand, the Egyptian-Libyan Initiative committee on reconciliation in Sudan is due to meet in Cairo on Saturday on the sidelines of the Arab foreign ministers' meetings.

"The meeting will address the procedural aspects, complement the preparations for a national reconciliation in Sudan, "said Rafiq Khalil, director of the Sudanese For Relations Section.

Previous Stories:
  Mubarak keen on Sudan's integration   (9/4/2001)
  Some 80% of the Sudanese- Egyptian file is re-arranged   (8/24/2001)
  Maher meets with Sudanese foreign minister   (8/21/2001)

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