US State department spokesman Philip Crowley on Wednesday announced that the US had turned down a suggestion by Egypt to form a “confederation” between northern and southern Sudan.
He added that it was up to the people of southern Sudan to determine their own fate, referring to a national referendum slated for 9 January in which southerners will vote on whether or not to secede from northern Sudan.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, at a press conference with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton on Wednesday, said, without elaborating, that he was “pleased” with the outcome of his talks with Clinton.
Both foreign ministers, however, declined to comment on relations between their respective countries, or the US position vis-a-vis Egypt’s 28 November parliamentary elections.
According to Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki, Egypt and the US agree “in principle” on the need to maintain peace and stability between northern and southern Sudan.
“In this regard,” he said, “there are no fundamental differences between Egypt and the US.”
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
