US Senator John Kerry arrives in Khartoum

From Miraya FM Wednesday, 15 April 2009:
Khartoum highlights importance of Kerry's visit

The Sudanese Government has welcomed the visit of John Kerry, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which starts today.

The US relations officer in the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign affairs, Nasr el Din wali, told the press that the visit is a positive step towards developing the US-Sudanese relations.

John Kerry arrives in Khartoum today heading a delegation from the US Congress.

He is expected to meet a number of Sudanese Officials among them is the first Vice President, Ali Osman Mohammed Taha.

The US Charge D'Affaires, Alberto Fernandez, said that the visit will include south Sudan and Darfur.

Speaking to Miraya FM, Fernandez said that the visit will concentrate on solving the Darfur crisis, specially the humanitarian situation after the government's decision of expelling aid organizations from Darfur, in addition to following up the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

U.S. senator arrives in Khartoum for talks on Sudan-U.S. ties

KHARTOUM, April 15, 2009 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. congressional delegation led by Senator John Kerry arrived in Khartoum on Wednesday for talks with Sudanese officials on ties between Khartoum and Washington.

Kerry, chairman of U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his delegation are expected to meet Sudanese Vice President Ali Osman Mohammed Taha, Presidential Assistant Nafie Ali Nafie, Presidential Adviser Ghazi Salah al-Din and Foreign Minister Deng Alor.

He will then head for Al-Fisher, the capital city of North Darfur State, where he will meet local officials and representatives of the hybrid peacekeeping mission of the United Nations and the African Union in Darfur (UNAMID), and visit some refugee camps.

The U.S. senator's visit to Sudan came only one week following a tour in the eastern African country by Scott Gration, the special envoy of the U.S. president to Sudan.

Abdul Basit Badawi Snoussi, director-general of bilateral relations in the Sudanese Foreign Ministry, reiterated on the eve of Kerry's arrival Sudan's firm position in dealing with the United States.

He said at the Sudanese Media Center that any problems between Khartoum and Washington, no matter how complicated they are, should be ironed out through dialogue rather than pressures and threats.

Expressing his government's satisfaction with the new approach of the U.S. administration in dealing with various issues in Africa, the Sudanese official said that Sudan had received the U.S. special envoy with an open heart and heard from him "good words" that sent optimistic signals.

"This is not the end but the beginning of the road for solutions through dialogue and understanding as a first step, which should be followed by others," he said.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

Photo source: Sudan Watch Tuesday, April 07, 2009 - US Senator John Kerry to visit Darfur and Khartoum, Sudan