Khartoum welcomes prospect of improved ties with US

By Bahram Abdel-Moneim

KHARTOUM (AA) - Khartoum on Thursday welcomed recent statements by Washington that it was ready to begin the process of removing Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and improve ties following decades of hostility.

On Wednesday, the U.S. administration announced its readiness to remove Sudan from the list on condition that Sudan improve its human rights record, cooperate in the fight against terrorism, and take steps to resolve the country’s many internal conflicts.

One day earlier, Sudanese Foreign Minister Al-Dardiri Mohamed announced the launch of a “second phase” of dialogue with U.S. officials.

Mohamed made the remarks at a meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan, held on the sidelines of a UN General Assembly meeting in New York, according to a Sudanese Foreign Ministry statement.

That meeting reportedly focused on Sudan’s pivotal role in the region and the need to improve bilateral ties.

Last year, the U.S. lifted longstanding sanctions on Sudan and removed it from its list of countries whose citizens are subject to travel restrictions.

The U.S. kept Sudan on its list of state sponsors of terrorism, however, to which Khartoum was added in 1993.