Sudan criticises renewal of US unilateral sanctions

The American President, Barack Obama, announced on Thursday the renewal of the unilateral sanctions that had been imposed on Sudan. However, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry stressed yet again that the sanctions imposed by the American administration over Sudan are political and are aimed to harm the interests of the Sudanese people. They believe the constraints are causing obstacles in the development of Sudan as well as perpetuating peace, violence, unemployment and poverty. The Ministry issued a statement on Thursday evening stating that the sanctions were more beneficial to the armed rebel groups and this was increasing pressure on the Sudanese government. The statement added that Sudan and the international community refused such compulsory measures, as it was a means for political and economical compulsion - especially those related to the American domination projects in the region. It further stated that this was a clear violation to the concepts of the UN charter, law and the international agreements that organised the commercial, economic and financial relations between countries, adding this would have a negative impact on the freedom and flow of international trade. The Ministry said that the American administration had admitted on more than one occasion that Sudan had fulfilled its commitments – however the US continues to break its promises regarding the removal of the sanctions. According to a Sudanese official radio and news agency, President Obama had claimed to the American Senate and House of Representatives that the conditions leading to the infliction of the sanctions on the government in Sudan in November 3, 1997 are still ongoing. The message added that the procedures taken by the Sudanese government still represent a policy of anti-American interests and this forms an exceptional threat to the national security and US foreign policy. The Sudanese Information Minister, Dr Belal Othman, said in previous statements to Arabstoday that since President Omar al-Bashir received the power in 1989, the American administration has been attempting to overthrow the regime. He added that Sudan was negatively affected by the American sanctions imposed on it, yet was able to make notable achievements despite the unfair blockade. Khartoum said that the pressure group in the United States of America kept intensifying its efforts to fail all the efforts to be in good relations with Washington.