US, Sudan officials discuss 2nd phase of dialogue

By Adel Abdul Rahim

KHARTOUM (AA) - Sudanese and U.S. officials on Thursday discussed preparations for the planned second phase of U.S.-Sudan dialogue with a view to removing the latter from Washington’s list of state sponsors of terrorism.

According to Sudan’s Foreign Ministry, ministry undersecretary Abdel Ghani al-Naim and Andrew Burnett, Washington’s special envoy to Sudan, also discussed various aspects of bilateral cooperation.

Al-Naim stressed the importance of making “tangible progress” that would positively affect the lives of the Sudanese people, like facilitating international financial transactions.

Burnett, for his part, hailed the cooperation shown by Sudan, especially in respect to interfaith dialogue, the North Korea file and support for restoring stability in South Sudan.

Last October, the U.S. announced the lifting of sanctions on Sudan following intensive dialogue between the two sides.

One month earlier, the U.S. administration had removed Sudan from its list of countries whose citizens were subject to travel restrictions.

The U.S. designated Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism in 1993 for allegedly harboring terrorist groups.