US Presidential Contender Criticizes Negotiations with Sudan on Normalizing Ties

April 21, 2008 (WASHINGTON) — Democratic White House contender Barack Obama said he is “deeply concerned” over reports that the Bush administration is negotiating with Sudan over normalizing ties.

 US Senator Barack Obama (AP) “This reckless and cynical initiative would reward a regime in Khartoum that has a record of failing to live up to its commitments” Obama said in a statement made available today.

Last week the New York Times (NYT) obtained a series of documents exchanged between the Washington and Khartoum on a series of steps to normalize relations between the two countries. The documents were leaked by an unidentified US official described as being “critical of the administration’s position”.

The report said that the Bush administration could remove Sudan from an American list of state supporters of terrorism and normalize relations if the Sudanese government agreed, among other steps, to allow Thai and Nepalese peacekeepers as part of the peacekeeping force.

The newly appointed US special envoy to Sudan Richard Williamson met in Rome last week with a high level Sudanese delegation to discuss normalization of ties. The meeting adjourned late Friday and will be resumed “within a month” according to Sudan official news agency (SUNA).

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