Sudan says U.S. decision to extend sanction period "unjustified"

The Sudanese government said on Wednesday that a U.S. decision to extend the period for lifting sanctions on Sudan for three months is "unjustified."

"We have not seen any reason for this unjustified extension," Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters in the capital Khartoum, describing the sanctions on Sudan as "unilateral and unjust."

Sudan has fulfilled all requirements in the five-track plan approved between Khartoum and Washington, as all the U.S. institutions concerned have recognized Sudan's commitment to what was agreed on, the minister noted.

"We've implemented what we have committed to, but we have nothing to add," Ghandour said.

The Sudanese official also criticized the wrong signal sent by the decision about the issue of human rights in Sudan.

"First of all, human rights are not part of the five-track plan. Second, human rights in Sudan are completely preserved," he explained.

Ghandour, meanwhile, accused the pressure groups in the U.S. of prompting the decision.

"There are pressure groups benefiting from continuation of the siege on Sudan and from raising the motto of war in Sudan, which use old, sometimes funny and fabricated reports in a bid to condemn Sudan," he said.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of State said in a statement that the country has extended the review period for three months to decide whether to permanently lift trade sanctions on Sudan given its human rights records and other issues.

The statement, however, recognized the "significant, substantial progress" made by Sudan, including resolving internal armed conflicts, improving humanitarian access and maintaining cooperation on addressing regional conflicts and the threat of terrorism, noting that the U.S. still needs "some more time" to ensure that the African country has fully addressed its concerns.

Sudan and the U.S. approved a five-track plan about a year ago, in which U.S. former president Barack Obama promised to lift the sanctions if Sudan commits to improving access of humanitarian organizations, assisting in the peace process in South Sudan and ceasing the fighting in the conflict zones in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan states, as well as coordinating with the U.S. in combating terrorism.

On Jan. 13, Obama issued a decision to cancel two executive orders imposing economic sanctions on Sudan.

The executive orders gave 180 days for review before the sanctions are fully lifted to ensure the Sudanese government maintains its efforts on human rights and anti-terrorism.

The decision also allowed resumption of all banking transactions and trade exchange between the two countries.

source: Xinhua