Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

King Salman Congratulates Al-Bashir on Successful Surgery, Lifting U.S. Sanctions on Sudan | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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King Salman shaking hands with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. SPA


London, Riyadh- Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman telephoned Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir on Friday, congratulating him on undergoing a successful surgery and also on the lifting of part of the U.S. sanctions on Sudan.

For his part, the Sudanese President expressed his gratitude to the King for his fraternal sentiments and for the efforts exerted by the Kingdom in the lifting of sanctions.

Minister of state and director of the president’s office Taha Osman al-Hussein stated that Saudi Arabia has played a major role in lifting sanctions on Sudan and exerted tremendous efforts with the U.S. administration in order to achieve this purpose.

In a statement to Asharq Al-Awsat, Hussein declared that King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud gave directions to Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to exert more pressure to lift sanctions completely on Sudan, adding that without the Saudi role “this wouldn’t have been achieved”.

He hailed negotiations with the U.S. side, which have started five years ago, but added that no change was made until Sudan’s relations were enhanced with Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

During the meeting held between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and U.S. officials, “the U.S. party mentioned three points: halting support to the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), terminating the support of rebellious movements and allowing the accessibility of humanitarian aid to war zones,” Hussein said.

For its part, the government approved these points because it doesn’t support LRA at the first place, added the Sudanese official.

Hussein expressed optimism regarding continuity of positive dialogue with the new U.S. administration. “As long as Saudi Arabia and UAE are on our side, we are not concerned,” he said.