British State Minister for African Affairs Affirms Importance of Post Self-Autonomy Stage
Khartoum, Jan. 12 (SUNA)- The British State Minister for African Affairs, Baroness Glenys Kinnock, has stressed the importance of adopting steps for the post-referendum period and facing the challenges in the coming stage
At a press conference she held by the end of her visit to Khartoum, the British minister said that she will discuss these issues with the officials of the Government of South Sudan in her visit to Juba on Wednesday
Baroness Glenys Kinnock affirmed the commitment of Britain to assist Sudan and to provide it with 200 million dollars, half of it is assigned for humanitarian aid and the elections
She affirmed the need for more international contribution and commitment to the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). She said that she conveyed to the Sudanese officials, the civil society organizations and leaders of a number of political parties the commitment of the British government to help Sudan
She referred to her meetings with the Assistant of the President of the Republic, Dr. Nafie Ali Nafie, the Presidential Advisor, Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Al-Samani Al-Wasila, the Undersecretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mutrif Siddiq, the leader of the Umma Party, Saddiq Al-Mahdi, Deputy Secretary General of Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), Yasser Arman, and representatives of voluntary and civil society organizations and Darfur region
Meanwhile, Baroness Glenys Kinnock described as very important the coming negotiations in Doha, and underscored the important role of the African Union and the United Nations, adding that Britain has sent an envoy to attend the recent meetings
The British minister referred to the report that was presented the head of the African Union Panel on Darfur, Thapo Mbeki, and regarded it as an important document
She said that Britain views that progress was reached in the relation between north and south Sudan, stressing the importance of the political process and adoption of dialogue instead of violence
She also affirmed the importance of going ahead in the election process in the country
MO/MO