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Sudan, Iran decry int'l sanctions at UN trade talks

Xinhua, July 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Sudanese and Iranian ministers of trade on Monday called for lifting international sanctions and guarding against the restrictions on the use of funds from international financial institutions, saying they distorted the global trade field.

Sudanese Trade Minister Salah Mohamed El-Hassan and the Iranian Economy Minister Ali Teyebnia, addressed the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Nairobi, calling for widespread reform of the trade environment, with major emphasis on removing barriers to trade and distortions which make it difficult to trade equally.

During the conference, the Iranian minister said the barriers to trade needed to be removed completely to promote trade between the countries on the southern pole of the world and those on the northern side, on an equal footing.

"The old solutions such as closing borders and excluding countries from the global financial structures will not work under UNCTAD," the Iranian minister said.

He called on ministers attending the talks to ensure the global trading system is completely freed from the politics.

"We must depoliticize the multilateral trading system and ensure the differences among the developing countries and the developed countries are addressed. Unilateral measures need to be avoided as they affect people-centered development," the Iranian minister said.

Speaking at the same meeting, the Sudanese minister said global trade should be enhanced based on an equal footing and a level playing field for all states involved in order to promote economic development.

The Sudanese minister said Khartoum had been severely affected by the international sanctions, which have restricted the participation of Sudanese banks in the international trading system.

Sudan is currently unable to buy any machinery internationally due to the sanctions against Sudan.

Minister El-Hassan said among the worst affected machinery products were aircraft and aircraft parts and other forms of machinery that the country requires locally.

"Our development requirements are beyond the local and national capacity. The international trading system is based on mutual assistance," the Sudanese minister noted.

He said despite the local efforts by Sudan to qualify for international support, including the lifting of international sanctions, Sudan was maintained on the international sanctions list.

"We have tried to take a strong position against international terrorism but this has not qualified us. We call upon UNCTAD to support our joining of the World Trade Organization," the minister said. Endit