Bashir Hails Sudan's Relations with Qatar

Doha, March 30 (QNA) - Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has praised his country's relations with Qatar describing them as firm and distinctive.
Addressing a Sudanese community gathering at Ritz Carlton Hotel, Al-Bashir said "we in Sudan thank the Emir, government and people of Qatar for all the assistance and support they provide us with .. our relationship with Qatar is excellent and consistent. The State of Qatar and HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani stood with us in all international forums and Qatar has remained the first defender of Sudan's causes.
He said Qatar in great patience tolerated the Darfur negotiations. There is no place in the world that could tolerate negotiations for all this period and have patience like the people of Qatar. Whatever we say about Qatar will not fulfill what it deserves and all this explains the extent of interest of Qatar and its people in the stability of Sudan and their passion for it.
President Bashir praised the great, appreciated and successful efforts carried out by Qatar under the leadership HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani to heal the Arab rift and to unify the nation, noting in this context its role in resolving the Lebanon crisis, which has eluded and defied all "Arabs and non-Arabs''.
The Sudanese President meanwhile welcomed the change in Egypt and described Libya as a (large arms cache) .. He said the Russian arms in Libya currently has more than was present in the former Soviet Union. He warned against the possibility of the flow of Libyan arms into Sudan.

The Sudanese president accused the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) of disrupting and complicating the outstanding issues between the ruling partners in Sudan, the ruling National Congress Party and the Movement in the wake of the referendum on self-determination for south Sudan in January, which led to the secession of the south by a large majority.
He noted that the pending issues include border demarcation, the disputed oil-rich Abyei region, the currency, oil, debts, nationality, Nile water and fixed and movable assets.
President al-Bashir stressed in this context that the referendum on self-determination of Abyei will not be conducted without the participation of the Arab Misseriya tribe living in the region .. He also rejected the so-called dual nationality, saying after the expiry of the transitional period on the ninth of July 2011 (the southerner will be a southerner and the northerner a northerner) and will not accept to talk about dual citizenship after that date.
The Sudanese president reiterated that north Sudan will help the government of the south saying stability of this emerging state and its strength is in the interest of the north.
President al-Bashir highly valued the ''great and appreciated efforts'' made by Qatar to resolve the Darfur problem .. He referred to the internal peace strategy, which includes five axes namely: security, tribal settlements, norms, displaced persons and refugees, development and services, in addition to the negotiations currently under way in Doha.. He pointed out that the aim of the negotiations process is to reach an internationally recognized document.
He talked about the next stage in the Sudan after the secession of the south and resolution of the Darfur problem, saying it will be devoted to development .. He pointed out that the north will lose, as of 09/07/2011, its share from the oil revenues, therefore the government has resorted to many measures to redress the budget's deficit.
He said during the next phase a permanent constitution, agreed upon by all Sudanese, will be drafted.