Sudan: Halaiub problem will be solved with Egypt
Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 3/23/1998

A session of Sudanese - Egyptian talks was held at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry's headquarters, between an Egyptian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Amr Moussa and a Sudanese delegation headed by Sudanese Foreign Minister Mostafa Osman Ismael, who said after the meetings that the discussions tackled all the aspects of Sudanese - Egyptian relations that were previously discussed.

Answering journalists' questions, he said that agreement between the two countries toward all the outstanding issues was nearly complete.

Concerning the Halaiub issue and how to solve it, the Sudanese foreign minister said, we all are confident that the Halaiub issue will be solved within the relations between the two countries.

Concerning future steps in Egyptian - Sudanese relations, Moussa said: "We are currently greatly concerned with enhancing the Egyptian - Sudanese relations to restore them back to their right track."

Moussa welcomed the Sudanese foreign minister, stating that he will hold other subsequent meetings with him, during his visit to Egypt, adding that they tackled the items suggested by the Arab countries' foreign ministers.

Concerning the time for the referendum on constitutional reforms in Sudan, and whether this will happen before peace talks or not Mostafa Osman said: "We are at the second stage of talks that will last for two or three weeks."

After that he said the Sudanese government will be ready to specify the time frame for the referendum, possibly in May, because talks with the opposition will be held at the end of April.

Concerning Sudan's restoration of Egyptian possessions in Sudan, Ismael said that President Omar El-Beshir has already begun to implement this resolution.

Concerning the Egyptian initiative toward comprehensive reconciliation in Sudan, the Sudanese minister said Sudan believes that Egypt is capable of playing an effective role in maintaining Sudanese unity, security, and political stability, adding that all concerned parties in Sudan welcome an Egyptian role and hope that this role will be esatblished soon.

Concerning Sudan's hope that the Egyptian role would be basic and central in mediation with the opposition, especially within the current contradictions with IGAG's countries and their strong association with US policy, he said that IGAD members were chosen because they are Sudan's neighbors.

Foreign Minister Moussa said that Egypt considers IGAD countries intimate ones and that they all work together toward an end to Sudanese problems, emphasizing that there is no contradiction with IGAD.

Previous Stories:
  A warm welcome for improved relations with Sudan   (3/17/1998)
  Sudanese ambassador calls for unity between Egypt, Sudan   (3/14/1998)
  New Egyptian initiative for Sudanese reconciliation   (3/10/1998)

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