Russian, Sudanese foreign ministers to meet in Moscow

. .

MOSCOW, December 23 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
Lavrov and his Sudanese counterpart Ali Ahmed Karti will meet in Moscow on
Thursday to discuss the Sudanese settlement and the forthcoming referendum
on self-determination of southern Sudan slated for early January 2011.
The Russian side has stressed it many times that it was ready to work
towards the Sudanese settlement as part of international effort and
through constructive interaction with Khartoum.
Moscow assumes that a timely plebiscite will meet the interests of
Sudan and the whole region.
Earlier, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sent a message to Sudanese
President Omar al-Bashir, in which he emphasized that Russia respected
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Sudan.
"I am convinced that irrespective of the outcome the plebiscite will
determine the future and status of the territories and population of
southern Sudan and will produce a significant impact on the general
political situation in the region," Medvedev said in his message.
" I hope that the results of the referendum will lay down the
necessary conditions for advancing post-conflict settlement and stable
development of Sudan," Medvedev said.
The Russian side believes that the United Nations peacekeeping mission
in Sudan can play a significant role in the Sudanese settlement. A
decision has been made that a Russian aviation group that used to operate
as part of the United Nations missions in Chad and the Central African
Republic will be re-deployed to replace the Indian contingent in Sudan.
In 2005, the Sudanese authorities concluded a peace treaty with
representatives of the south that had been torn by a civil war for 22
years. The treaty granted broad autonomy to Sudan's southern region. It
was decided to hold a referendum on the status of southern Sudan under
control of local and international observers. Some analysts believe that
the referendum may lead to separation of southern Sudan, predominantly
populated by Christians and animists, from the Muslim north.
Sergei Lavrov and Ali Ahmed Karti are expected to discuss how to step
up trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. Reciprocal
trade stands at 30 million dollars. Russian exports are made up of
technical products, electric equipment and building materials while Sudan
exports agricultural products to Russia.
There's a possibility to deliver products of Russian aviation and
automobile plants, consumers goods and grain as well as to establish
energy cooperation.
In 2008, a section of an oil pipeline built by Strojtransgas connected
the Melut deposit with Port Sudan on the Red Sea.
Sudan develops regional partnership with the Republic of Tatarstan in
Russia.

-0-fil/


Delete & Prev | Delete & Next