Iran Press/Africa: Many international observers say that they had less to do with the compensation of the two American victims of terror and more to do with Sudan agreeing to normalize relations with Israel. What's your response?
In an exclusive interview with Presstv, the top Sudanese official elaborated on different issues.
Presstv asked, "You mentioned the delisting of Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST). Many international observers say that had less to do with the compensation of the two American victims of terror and more to do with Sudan agreeing to normalize relations with Israel. What's your response?"
Saleh: "In the beginning that was not the case. We have started from day one in September 2019 the negotiations with the Americans on the case of delisting Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List (SST) and on the compensation for the families of the victims of the terrorist act that the old Sudan government was linked to and the issue of normalizing relation with Israel was never mentioned on that time.
"The negotiations went on for 7 or 8 months successfully until we reached the point to reduce the amount of money that the Sudanese government will pay as compensation for the victims' families."
"In the last few months in then, the question of normalization of relations with Israel was raised.", the minister noted, adding that "We insisted on two things: First, the separation of the two issues. The delisting of Sudan from SST is separated from normalizing relations with Israel. Second, the issue of normalizing relations is not one of our mandates as a transitional government and should be left to an elected government."
Sudan’s Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism stated, "Then the American's pressure on Sudan started. Until that time, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did not say that there was a link between the delisting and the normalization of relations."
"But he used to raise the issues until the last two weeks before the American elections and I think Sudan was used as a card in the elections by Trump."
"Sudan was under very heavy pressure. The last week it was clear: If Sudan wanted to be delisted from SST, then it had to normalize relations with Israel.", Saleh highlighted.
Our economic minister said that Sudan cannot tolerate dissection after the elections. So, the government had to promise to normalize relations with Israel but there was one condition: the whole issue to go to the legislative council.
Read more:
Iran Foreign Ministry reacts to US embarrassing offer to Sudan
Yemeni Ansarullah movement reacts to Sudan-Israel normalization of ties
