Taha Urges Donors to Consider Issues of Debts, Economic Sanctions and to Support Agricultural development in Sudan

Vice - President of the Republic, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, has called on the donors to consider settlement of debts of Sudan, lifting of the economic sanctions and to support the agricultural development projects in the country. Addressing the opening sitting of the Donors Conference in Oslo, Taha said that support to the development projects aims to realizing the Millennium goals and combating poverty trough the funding of projects, especially in the agricultural field.

He referred to the efforts of Sudan government for realization of peace and stability, as well as progress of implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and achieving solution for Darfur issue.

The opening sitting was addressed by representatives of the United Nations and the World Bank who underscored the importance of support to peace, indicating that realization of peace is possible as long as the political will is existing. A sitting was held after the inaugural one and discussed the progress of implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
 
The sitting, which was chaired by the Minister of International Cooperation, Dr. Al-Tigani Salih Fedail, reviewed a paper presented by Dr. Tajal-Sir Mahjoub on issues relating to the implementation of the clauses of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, in addition papers presented by the Minister of Presidential Affairs in the government of southern Sudan, Dr. Luka Piong and Chairman of the Assessment and Evaluation Commission. In a press statement to SUNA, Dr. Fedail said that the papers presented at the sitting explained that many accomplishments were realized concerning the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and that some issues remained pending such as the issue of Abyei.

He said that the speakers at the sitting called for speeding up to the efforts for solution of the remaining issues. Dr. Fedail said that a third sitting, chaired by Yahia Hussein, was also held and discussed the issue of Joint Assessment Mission document and the implementation of JAM Document during the period 2005 - 2007, besides the projects for the period 2008 - 2011, which are mostly relating to the establishment of infrastructural projects in north and south Sudan.

He indicated that the paper called for funding to these projects toward boosting the unity option, explaining that these infrastructural projects include railway and land and river transport projects.

He said that the final sitting of the Donors Conference was assigned to discuss the future plans, adding that Dr. Tajal-Sir Mahjoub gave a review of the five-year strategy which is linked to the three-year development plan of south Sudan. Dr. Fedail said that a sitting will be held Wednesday under chairmanship of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Awad Ahmed Al-Jaz, to declare the new commitments of the donors in support of Sudan, indicating that this sitting will be followed by the final one of the conference.