KHARTOUM, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese government said on Sunday that it believes the U.S. sanctions imposed on the country for 20 years will be fully lifted, after a report by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) indicates Khartoum has fulfilled all requirements, Sudanese Media Center (SMC) reported.
"Sudan has fulfilled all requirements, and therefore lifting of the sanctions is considered a fair matter," Sudanese Information Minister Ahmed Bilal Osman was quoted as saying.
He described the CIA report as "positive," saying his country is "optimistic that the U.S. Congress and President will fully lift the sanctions from Sudan."
The minister also noted that Khartoum is cooperating in all fields, and therefore it is natural for the sanctions to be lifted from it.
Earlier, Washington set conditions for fully lifting the sanctions on Sudan, which required the country to present a report by July 12 to commit itself to a number of terms including combating terrorism and ceasing hostilities in conflict areas.
On January 13, then U.S. president Barack Obama issued a decision to cancel two executive orders imposing economic sanctions on Sudan.
The United States has been imposing sanctions on Sudan since 1997 and putting it on its list of countries sponsoring terrorism since 1993.
Since then, Washington has been renewing its sanctions on Sudan due to the continuing war in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan regions in addition to a number of outstanding issues with South Sudan, such as the territorial dispute over the oil-rich Abyei area.
