Russia voices support for Sudanese people, leaderships in overcoming crisis

KHARTOUM, March 17 (Xinhua) -- A visiting Russian official on Sunday expressed his country's readiness to stand by the Sudanese People and the leadership to overcome the current crisis, said Sudanese Presidency in a statement.

The remarks were made by Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia's deputy foreign minister and special presidential representative for the Middle East and Africa, during his meeting with Sudanese First Vice-President Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf in the capital Khartoum.

"Russia, on the basis of the friendship which brings it together with Sudan, will stand by the Sudanese People and its leaderships ... to overcome the current crisis," Bogdanov was quoted in the statement as saying.

"I'm confident in the ability of the leaderships in the country to overcome the economic difficulties," he added.

Bogdanov voiced Russia's strong will to enhance its ties with Sudan in the economic, political and military fields.

Russia would work to enhance Sudan's defense capabilities and contribute to the training of its military personnel, the Russian official added.

Bogdanov arrived in Khartoum on Friday evening, and met with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Saturday, where he delivered al-Bashir an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first Russian-African summit scheduled for October.

Since Dec. 19 last year, Sudan has been witnessing popular protests over the deteriorating economic conditions and price hikes of basic commodities. Enditem