February 2, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - Presidential assistant Nafie Ali Nafie said he had a successful visit to Norway and Sweden hoping that it would open a new page in the relations the two countries in several areas.
Nafie held a press conference on Saturday morning after his return from the two Scandinavian countries where he discussed with officials of foreign affairs, investment, trade and international cooperation ministries ways to develop political and economic relations.
He said he also met with aid groups and NGOs working in Sudan to facilitate their activities and to develop bilateral relations on the different humanitarian and voluntary aspects, besides meetings with political parties and research centres.
The influential official said that the authorities in the two Scand avian countries showed keenness to develop their relations with Sudan particularly in the fields of economic activities; hopping that such development provides a basis to engage a comprehensive dialogue with the European Union.
Since the 30 June 1989, the European Union stopped its economic aid to Sudan calling for a return to a democratic regime. Also, atrocities and war crimes in western Sudan pushed Brussels to support the referral of Darfur case to International Criminal Court.
Last year during a visit to Al-Fasher, EU special envoy to Sudan, Rosalind Marsden, said Brussels would not participate in a donors conference to support peace in Darfur, unless Khartoum pays its financial contributions to the regional authority and achieve justice, as provided the peace document.
However, the EU countries do not have one policy when it comes to their bilateral relations with the Sudan.
Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti, in a radio talk show on Friday, emphasised that the EU policy is totally different on the bilateral level from the EU policy towards Sudan.
"We plan to build bilateral relations with the European countries", he said.
He further regretted the pressures that Germany faced to cancel an economic forum to encourage private investment in Sudan, adding that said that dozens of German companies are eager to invest in Sudan.
(ST)