Al-Bashir: The war in the south is the cause of suffering

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has asserted that the war in the south is the main reason for political, economic and social problems from which Sudan suffers.

In a statement to the London-based al-Hawadeth magazine in its recent issue, the Sudanese president said, "We have started the implementation of the federal system, which is the demand of our brothers in the south with the hope to reach peace," adding that there are regional and international forces which do not want peace in Sudan.

On the economic situation in Sudan, the Sudanese minister said, "The Sudanese economy has been recovering, and we are determined to deal with the previous consequences." He added that the government's income will improve after oil revenues go to the state budget.

The Sudanese president asserted the importance of the Sudanese -Egyptian relations. He added, "We have taken several measures for all matters of concern to the Egyptian side, especially the security conditions, so as to restore normal relations."

He continued that Sudan's relations with the Arab states have been restored to normalcy, including relations with Kuwait.

On the United States' August 1998 strike against al-Shafaa pharmaceutical factory outside Khartoum under the pretext that the facility was producing chemicals used in the production of chemical weapons, the Sudanese president said the factory does not produce any chemicals, "It is a second grade factory, and the result of the US strike was of adverse impacts of killing and a loss estimated at US $ 70 million."

The Sudanese president criticized globalization, saying it will lead Sudan to great risks.