Sudan announces delay of political consultation meetings with Egypt

Sudan's Foreign Ministry on Sunday announced delay of meetings of joint political consultation committee between Sudan and Egypt which were scheduled to begin in Khartoum on Sunday.

"The meetings of joint political consultation committee have been postponed and would not be held on the previously set date due to weather conditions which prevented movement of air traffic," said the ministry in a statement Sunday.

"Consultations are underway between the two countries' foreign ministries to fix a new date to be announced once the two sides agree on," it added.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry was scheduled to arrive in Khartoum on Saturday evening to chair his country's side to the meetings of the joint political consultation committee.

Sudan on Friday issued a decision obliging Egyptian citizens seeking to enter its territories to obtain entry-visa, namely the ones aged between 16 to 50 years old. The decision excludes women, children and those above 50 years old.

In 2004, Sudan and Egypt signed an agreement of the four freedoms, which avails the citizens of the two countries freedoms of work, movement, residence and ownership.

Khartoum said it has fully implemented the agreement since it was signed, while Cairo imposes entry-visa on Sudanese aged between 18 and 50 years old.

Recently Khartoum complained over an Egyptian decision increasing the stay fees on foreigners, including the Sudanese.

source: Xinhua