The President of the Republic field Marshal Omar Al Bashir on Friday received the American Presidential Envoy to the Sudan Richard Williamson in the presence of the Presidential Advisor Dr Mustafa Osman Ismail and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deng Alor.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs Deng Alor has pointed out in press statements following the meeting that the American Envoy has briefed the President on the reply of the American Administration to the ideas put by the delegation of the Government of National Unity who visited the United States and met with officials there recently.
The Minister has described the meeting as constructive and fruitful and that it reviewed relations between the two countries and efforts to improve bilateral relations. He said a committee has been formed to study the paper of answers provided by the American Envoy so that a government response would be provided to those answers. The American Enovy has meanwhile said President Bush desires to see alleviation for the suffering of the people in Darfur and that there was need to restore security and stability on the ground and help the IDP return home and move towards peace.
He said he was appreciative of the chance to meet the President of the Republic and to have businesslike approach to the concerns of President Bush. He said he has come out from the meeting encouraged that a step has been taken that could open possibilities in the relations between the two countries.
Meanwhile, The Advisor to the President of the Republic, Dr Mustafa Osman Ismail, on Friday described the meeting of the Assistant of the President of the Republic Dr Nafie Ali Nafie with the visiting American Envoy to the Sudan as being frank, open and detailed.
Dr Ismail pointed out in a statement following the meeting of the American Envoy with Dr Nafie that the visit of the Envoy has opened the field for more dialogue between the two countries to reach a common understanding. He added the meeting has reviewed the pending questions in the Sudanese American relations including the question of Darfur and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the sanctions imposed by America on the Sudan. The Advisor said the visit of US Envoy to the Sudan was meant to explore and that it comes after a visit by the Adviser and the Minister for Foreign Relations Deng Alor to the United States of America and that contacts between officials would continue. On his part the American Envoy Richard Williamson pointed out after his meeting with Dr Nafie that he reviewed with the Assistant issues of mutual interest with the view to find a path forward for future progress in the relations between the two countries.
He said he was leaving the Sudan cautiously optimistic that progress would be made in the bilateral relations between the two countries. In the meantime the Director of the two Americas at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Al-Sanousi told SUNA that the meeting was good, constructive and businesslike and that it discussed ideas brought by the American Envoy within the context of the continued dialogue for improvement of the situation in Darfur.
