Sudan reaffirms non-alliance policy despite brotherly ties with Turkey

KHARTOUM, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Tuesday reaffirmed its non-alliance policy, denying that the Turkish president's visit indicates Sudan's readiness to join a Turkey-led regional alliance.

"Sudan has never been a party to an alliance. We do not believe in the policy of alliances. We are open to our brothers in the whole world, whether they are Africans, Arabs or Muslims," Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour said at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart in the capital Khartoum.

"We are even open to all countries as friends and peace-loving linked by mutual benefits for the interests of our peoples and the interests of international peace and security," he added.

"Turkey is a brotherly country that we are bonded to by a long history and our relationship with it is distinguished, but we have not been and we will not be a party to any Axis or alliance," the minister noted.

Erdogan on Tuesday concluded a visit to Sudan that marked the first of its kind for a Turkish president to the North African nation since its independence.

During his three-day visit, Erdogan and his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir held official talks to deepen bilateral ties in all fields.

The Turkish president also visited the historic city of Swakin in eastern Sudan which boasts Ottoman historical heritage.

A Sudanese-Turkish economic forum was also convened during the visit, where the two countries signed 12 agreements to boost cooperation in the economic, commercial, military, political and cultural fields.

Erdogan arrived in Khartoum on Sunday as the first stop of his tour in Africa which will also take him to Chad and Tunisia.

During the visit, the Turkish president was accompanied by a large economic delegation of more than 200 Turkish businessmen. Enditem