1/27/2005
Sudan and the European Union signed at the headquarters of the Commission in Brussels a cooperation agreement following 15 years of cessation, following the end of the longest war in Africa.
The agreement was signed by the first deputy for the Sudanese President Ali Othman Muhammad Taha and the commissioner for the foreign relations of the southern rebels, while the European side was attended by the chairman of the European commission Jose Paroco and EU chairman of Aids commission Louis Michael.
Officials said that the signing will open the door for providing a sum of 50 million EUROS of direct aid and commitment to provide other 400 million EUROS for the long run, under the condition that both the Sudanese government and the southern will abide by the peace agreement they signed on January 9th as well as to restore back peace in Darfur area.
This agreement, however, comes in the course of a tour Taha started in several European capitals with the aim of spreading awareness over the peace agreement which was signed in Nairobi.
On the other hand, the Sudanese government and the pesouthern rebels agreed to form the government of the interim phase of 30 ministers and 30 ministers of state.
The two sides decided that ministerial bags will be divided to that 15 ministers and 15 ministers of state will be for the ruling National Congress party and 10 ministers and 10 state ministers for the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (southern rebels).