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Sudan Says Oil Companies to Stay Despite U.S. Threats
KHARTOUM, July 17 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The Sudanese government doubts foreign oil companies, notably the Canadian company "Talisman," will
pull out from the Sudan under threats of sanctions from the United States, Sudan's foreign minister was quoted saying to local newspapers on Tuesday.
"Numerous signals we have received confirmed that all oil companies, including Talisman, will continue operating in Sudan," Sudanese Foreign Minister Osman Ismail was quoted as saying in Khartoum newspapers.
Ismail said that applications were received last week from a number of foreign companies interested in oil investment in Sudan and that new applications are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
Ismail said he does not expect the U.S. government to impose sanctions on oil companies operating in the Sudan.
He cited a statement that he attributed to the U.S. State Department, saying President George W. Bush's administration is opposed to a resolution in the U.S. Congress for sanctions on foreign companies investing in Sudan.
Ismail added that he did not know anything about reports of U.S. pressure on Kenya not to import oil from Sudan.
Newly discovered underground oil wealth in the southern part of Africa's largest country has apparently further fanned the civil war. Western and Christian missionary humanitarian organizations, active in the south, accuse the government of rights violations against the armed rebellion movement.
The latest stage of the war in Sudan broke out in 1983 and has claimed an estimated two million lives.
The war has pitted the Islamic-backed government in Khartoum against the Sudan People's Liberation Army, which has fought successive regimes to end domination of the mainly Christian south by the north.
The majority of Northern Sudan's population is Arab Muslim, while in Southern Sudan there is a Christian minority that seeks autonomy and independence.
In a move sharply criticized by Sudan, the United States recently granted three million dollars to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), an umbrella for the southern rebels and northern opposition groups.
Sudan accuses Washington of supporting the Sudan People's Liberation Army, which recruits in the animist and Christian south in its 18-year war against successive governments in Khartoum.
On June 6, Beshir accused the SPLA of seeking to seize the oil fields south of Khartoum, driving away foreign oil companies and replacing them with U.S. oil firms.
With reserves estimated at more than one billion barrels, crude output is expected to rise to 400,000 barrels per day in the next few years; current production is some 200,000 bpd, according to estimates from the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
Last month Sudan urged southern the Christian and animist rebels to "stop fighting and talk."
"The government is committed to talks, it has accepted the right of self-determination for the south even to the extent of secession. Let's stop fighting and talk," Sudanese Deputy Foreign Minister Chuol Deng said.
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