To all, some weekend news from Khartoum,
Saturday, February 21, 1998; 11:37 a.m. EST
KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) -- Sudan will focus on improving its relations
with its African neighbors, the country's new foreign minister, Mustafa
Osman Ismail, said in remarks published Saturday.
''I strongly believe that the axis of Sudan's foreign policy should be based
on correct and good relations with its neighbors,'' Ismail said in an
interview with Sudan's Al-Gomhouria newspaper.
''Because we cannot choose our neighbors, thus we have to seek the
means to coexist with them in harmony,'' he added.
Ismail was appointed last week to replace Ali Osman Taha, who became
first vice president following the Feb. 12 plane crash which killed his
predecessor, Zubair Mohamed Saleh.
Ismail did not talk about Sudan's relations with Europe or with the United
States, which imposed sanctions on Sudan last year.
The United States, which considers Sudan a leading sponsor of terrorism,
has accused the government of sheltering Islamic militants and condemned
its poor human rights record. Sudan has denied the charge, saying the
United States fears its independence.
Two of Sudan's nine neighbors -- Eritrea and Uganda -- have cut
diplomatic ties with the Khartoum government, charging that Sudan aids
armed political dissidents in those countries.
Another neighbor, Ethiopia, has kept relations at a low level since it
accused Sudan of harboring three suspects in the 1995 attempt on Egypt's
president in the capital Addis Ababa.
Ismail said he would continue working on Sudan's relations with Egypt
which have begun to thaw recently after reaching their lowest point in the
wake of the assassination attempt.
c Copyright 1998 The Associated Press |
