October 11, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The Slovakia government the cancelled all its debts owed by Sudan unconditionally which totalled 40 million, Sudan’s state media reported.

Sudan’s official news agency (SUNA) quoted the honorary consul of Slovakia in Sudan Nasr Al-Deen Sholgamy as saying that Slovakia is the first European country to cancel debt on Sudan.

The country’s external debt as of December, 31 2009 stood at about $35.68 billion mostly owed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Austria and the United States.

Splitting national debt is a contentious issue being negotiated between North and South Sudan ahead of the referendum particularly in light of the reluctance of Western nations to provide debt relief.

SUNA cited the commercial attaché at the Slovakian embassy in Cairo Helena Mravikova as saying that trade relations between the two countries are quickly developing and that exports rose at a rate of 120%.

Mravikova, who inaugurated an exhibition of Slovak products in Khartoum, noted that her government provided 39 million Euros in support of humanitarian work in Sudan and dispatched a number of doctors and nurses to contribute in improving relations.

She further said that her country is working to make Sudan the gate of Slovakia to the rest of the continent.

(ST)