18 Apr 2019 15:18

Russia hails statement by Sudan's interim govt saying that nature of relations between 2 countries has not changed - Russian Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW. April 18 (Interfax) - Russia welcomes the statements from Sudan's interim military council saying that the nature of relations between the two countries remains unchanged and strategic, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

"We praise the efforts made by the interim military council to stabilize the situation in the country. We welcome the statements made by its administration that the nature of bilateral Russian-Sudanese relations, which are based on years-old traditions of friendship and mutually profitable cooperation, remains unchanged and is regarded by Khartoum as strategic despite the change of power that occurred in Sudan as a result of mass protests," Zakharova told a briefing on Thursday.

Moscow continues to watch the development of the situation in Sudan closely, she said.

"We hope that the current crisis will be resolved using peaceful, democratic methods and, of course, on the basis of broad national dialogue," she said.

Sudan's Defense Minister Awad Ibn Auf said Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir had been arrested on April 11. A military council was formed in the country following Omar al-Bashir's removal from power. The council will run the country for the next two years while the new government is being formed.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov earlier visited the country and met with the administration of the interim military council, after which he told Interfax Russia and Sudan would continue fruitful cooperation.

"We have discussed the situation in the country. There are indications that the situation is stabilizing, which creates preconditions for solutions to socio-economic problems. We, as friends, are ready to promote that and provide assistance," Bogdanov said.