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By Toby Collins February 17, 2010 (LONDON) -- Khartoum is keen to develop relations with London and to rebuild old strong relations after the independence of South Sudan, said Sudan's Ambassador to the United Kingdom Abdullahi Al Azreg in an interview with the Sudan Tribune.
Ambassador of Sudan to the UK, Abdullahi Al Azreg
Speaking from his grand office in the Sudanese Embassy opposite St James's Palace, the Ambassador who is appointed last October said his ambition is to "bring back the golden old days" bilateral relations between Khartoum and London. He further said that the international support to the new state in South Sudan would, not affect the interests of north Sudan when it comes to investment and trade with the outside world. He studied in the U.S. and has a background in journalism. In the following interview conducted last week, Al Azreg delivers his point of view and remarks on the recent protests in Khartoum, the South Sudan ruling party, SPLM, and North South Sudan relations. The relationship between many Western countries and north Sudan has been changing recently. The rhetoric is less critical and the UK in particular is working towards improving trade relations, yet the politics of north Sudan seems to have changed little. How do you think this thawing of relations is related to the recent referendum vote? I think this is before the referendum. The idea of expanding trade and having investment opportunities in Sudan was expressed last July by H.E. the state minister for foreign affairs in the UK Mr. Henry Belingham, when he visited Khartoum. This was expressed by the British officials before the referendum. It is an internal British policy after this new government came to power. They changed the policy and decided to engage with all countries, among them is Sudan, for internal British purposes. An increase in trade would be in the best interests of both the UK and Sudan. We would like to have strong relations in all spheres with Britain. It is of mutual interest. But we are doing fine: Sudan has managed to make a rate of growth that a couple of years ago reached two digits. In spite of the international world crisis, Sudan last year made an annual...