Russia ready to get engaged in Darfur projects

Russian authorized economic operators should get engaged in the investment and infrastructure projects in Darfur, the Russian Foreign Ministry said upon the talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s aide Nafia Ali Nafia. The high-rank Sudanese official arrived in Moscow on a visit at the head of a Sudanese interdepartmental delegation to convey the president’s message written to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the ministry said, according to the Russian news agency (Itar-Tass). “During the talks the parties confirmed their resolve to strengthen the Russia-Sudan relations based on the principles of mutual respect, equal rights, and non-interference in internal affairs,” the ministry said. “Lavrov and Nafia discussed prospects for further development of bilateral cooperation in various areas. The tasks of interaction in trade, investment, finance, science researches and high technology were given proper attention.” The negotiating parties exchanged their opinions on pressing problems of regional developments. “While discussing the inter-Sudanese problems the parties stressed the necessity of setting an efficient pace to the implementation of the roadmap adopted by the African Union upon the results of the meeting of presidents of the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan in Addis-Ababa this September,” the ministry said. “Efforts to find solutions to the settlement of the Abyei district problem were recognized as really important,” the ministry said. Lavrov and Nafia also discussed prospects for Darfur’s return to peaceful life. “Sergei Lavrov made accent on the importance of further progress of political processes in the area involving the opposition that was not embraced by the Darfur peace accord and the importance of implementing the programs for revival of the economy and social infrastructure,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The Russian side expressed its readiness to study thoroughly “the Sudanese partners’ proposals on Russian authorized economic operators’ participation in investment and infrastructure projects in Darfur.”