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Ministry of foreign Affairs
PRESS & PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPT.
No : 561
The Daily English Bulletin
18/8/2007.
1. Sudan to attend in UN General Assembly meetings
Foreign Minister, Dr. Lam Akol next month will head a delegation to Un General Assembly meetings. Dr. Akol will deliver a speech before the Assembly and attend fringe ministerial meetings of the Arab League, n-Aligned Movement (NAM_ and 77 group, and expected to meet other counterparts, said Sudan envoy to United Nations, Abdel Mahmoud Abdel-Haleem in statement to SUNA.
2. UN Secretary General to Visit Sudan
United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon is expected to visit Sudan next month to hold talks with President Al Bashir and other officials on joint coorperation, execution of Security Council resolution No 1769 and progress of peace process in Darfur. The visit also tends to drum up international support to rehabilitation and reconstruction of Darfur and South Sudan, said Sudan envoy to United Nations, Abdel Mahmoud Abdel-Haleem.
3. African countries confirm contribution of troops in the hybrid operation
Sudan's permanent Envoy to the UN, ambassador Abdul Mahmoud abdul Halim, said many African countries have confirmed that they will contribute forces in the hybrid operations in Darfur according to the resolution No 1769 issued by the Security council, saying that this confirms the African nature of the operations. The Ambassador said in a statement to SUNA that so far there are conformations to send about 13-14 regiments, about 11,000 - soldiers, to Darfur. "The peace-keeping Department has filed the financial assessments with respect to these forces, about 2.7 billion USD, to UN's Secretary General who, in turn, will refer the issue to the General Assembly," said Ambassador Abdul Halim, expecting the operation to be finalized by next October. Answering a question on the call by the Chairperson of the AU commission, Alpha Omer Konare, for an International conference on Darfur in New York next month, the Ambassador said the coming days will reveal more details about the proposed conference with regard to the participating countries and level of participation. Meanwhile, ambassador Abdul Halim said the Security Council will hear to a routine report by the Secretary General on the progress being made in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace agreement in the third week of August.
4. 1250 families leave Abu Shouk Camp on the way to their areas of origin.
In an emotional and impressive way, the Governor of North Darfur State, Osman Mohammed Yusof Kibir, and number of Ministers in North Darfur State, Friday said good bye and expressed best wishes to some 1250 families who left Abu Shouk camp for the Internally displaced persons (IDPs) on the way to their areas of origin in Tawila, Karoma, Turra, Abu Sikeen, Gabral - Ghanam, Kaila and Umm Hai. Addrssing the occasion, the Governor expressed his happiness over the return of the first batch of the IDPs to their home villages to lead a normal and stable life, affirming that the government and the concerned bodies will spare no efforts to facilitate the return of the IDPs to their home areas. The Governor further stressed the importance of security, as a right for every one, urging the armed movements to assert this right in order to prevail security and assurance. Meanwhile, leaders and representatives of the departing IDPs affirmed that their return to their areas of origin comes as voluntary move from their own, demanding protection and security in these areas on order to restart normal life. It is to be noted that the Sudanese National Youth Union, the Islamic Medical Association and al-Zubair Charity Foundation are the major contributors in the voluntary repatriation of the first batch of the IDPs from Abu Shouk camp.
5. Islamic Development Bank, OIC grant 11 million's USD to Darfur States.
A joint delegation from the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Friday arrived in El-fashir, North Darfur State, accompanied by the Chairman of the Commission for Rehabilitation and Voluntary Repatriation in Darfur Interim Authority, Dr. Ibrahim Musa Madibo. Immediately upon arrival, the delegation met with the Government of North Darfur State, chaired by the governor Osman Mohammed Yusof Kibir, in presence of the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council, Mohammed Yusof Al-Tayeb, at the general Secretariat of the Government of North Darfur State. The delegation was briefed by the
Governor of North Darfur State, affirming that the humanitarian and security situations have improved greatly, saying that the visit will be a strong impetus of the efforts being exerted by the Government with regard to the realization of peace, stability and development. Meanwhile, Minister of Information and communications and the official Spokesman of the government, Khalid Ali Fagiri, said in après statement, the Government of North Darfur State accounts greatly on the visit of the joint delegation, referring to its declaration to grant some 11 million USD to the three states of Darfur. In this connection, he explained that the delegation will meet the concerned organs in the State to discuss the optimal use of the grant amount in the development and rehabilitation.
6. Sudan hopes changes of US stands
Sudan is optimistic that breakthrough in Darfur crisis as well as regional and international stands on the crisis will result in change of the US stance, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman. Ali Al Sadiq. Interviewed by Sudan News Agency, al Sadiq said Sudan has been trying to improve relations with United States and establishing joint economic and political cooperation far from dictation and interfere in domestic affairs. US, however has adopted Darfur crisis to pose some agenda in the region and pressure Sudan government. Sudan is aware of foreign plots and will exert more efforts to resolve the crisis in Darfur with the help of friendly and sisterly countries. On Foreign Ministry's diplomatic move following the issuance of resolution 1769, Al Sadiq said Sudan has dispatched two envoys to African countries to drum up support, reiterate Sudan's clinging to African settlement of the crisis according and pressure non signatory movements to join Abuja peace agreement. Asked about hybrid force, the Ambassador said the force is the right step to end the crisis. He necessitated urgent logistic and financial support to the current African Union Mission before the transfer takes place. On the European Union's stance on peace efforts in Darfur, Al Sadiq said the EU has welcomed resolution No 1769 and appreciated the Union's pledge to fund the African mission and provide logistic support. On Sudanese - Chadian ties, he said Sudan is committed to Tripoli Agreement and hoped that resolution No 1769 will stabilize joint border. On Sudanese infiltrators in Israel, Al Sadiq has regretted the act, saying Israel is regarded as the first and foremost enemy of all Muslims. Israelis will however sieze the opportunity to achieve others gains and improve their tarnished image, he concluded.
7. Government calls on the American Administration to release Sami Al Hajj.
The Government ahs called on the American Administration to set free the Sudanese national, Sami Al Hajj, who has been in detention IN the Guantanamo Bay prison for years without trial or specific charges directed against him. In a memorandum to the American administration, handed to the American Embassy in Khartoum, the Sudanese Government has confirmed its readiness to receive its subject, Sami, upon his release. The official Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ambassador Ali Al Sadeq, pointed out in a statement to the Sudan News Agency that the memorandum has explained that Sami has not been known for any fundamentalist positions and that in case he is released he would pose no threat to the American security. He said three Sudanese subjects had been released earlier and have posed no threats at the internal and external levels. He said in the case of Sami if he is released then eh would be dealt with according to the principles of the international charters and human rights. The Spokesman has pointed out that the memorandum came after a note the ministry received in July from the American Embassy in Khartoum in which it said the concerned American authorities were reconsidering the detention of the Sudanese national, Sami al Hajj, by late August this year. Ambassador Ali Al Sadeq has stated that the note of the American Embassy did not include any clear cur promise to release Sami Al hajj but rather a general promise to look into his case.
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