Minister Bonino met today in Rome with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sudan Ali Ahmed Karti.
Their discussions focused on relations between Sudan and South Sudan. Minister Bonino expressed appreciation for the important steps made toward peace, which, she pointed out, “has a significant impact on the entire eastern Sahel region and the Horn of Africa”.
The Minister also pointed out how internal peace and stability were essential to further developing bilateral relations. “Economic and social development in Sudan is one of the Italian Cooperation’s priorities”, the minister asserted, “which is why the foreign ministry has contributed over 135 million euro since 2000, mainly in the sectors of healthcare, water access, food safety and education; and, despite deep budget cuts, in 2013 we approved new projects for a total of 1.9 million euro in the sectors of food safety and healthcare”.
On the topic of human rights, Minister Bonino acknowledged the recent measures implemented by the Khartoum government, stating that Italy and the international community were committed to the promotion and safeguarding of fundamental rights in Surdan, not least through the renewed mandate of the Independent Expert of the United Nations Council on Human Rights.
