The Southern Sudanese government haswelcomed calls by U.S special envoy Scott Gration for a partial lifting ofsanctions against Sudan.
Gration said specific restrictionsshould be lifted to help develop the Southern Sudanese region.
The region isstill recovering from 22 years of civil war between the north and south, whichleft tens of thousands dead and destroyed infrastructure.
Gration adds that therestrictions on the north-led government "have spilled over" into theregion impeding the Southern governments development efforts.
Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, head of Southern Sudan'smission to the United States, told VOA that his governmentis determined to improve the lives of its peoples.
"Ifthere are some sanctions that are seen to be hindering developments in theSouth, then they can be lifted because that was the intention of the U.S Congress.To exempt Southern Sudan from the sanctions so that the development can betaken," Gatkuoth said.
Hesaid his government is against lifting sanctions that would bolster theposition of its northern partners.
"Wewill not welcome any sanctions (being lifted) that will benefit the NationalCongress Party because they will abuse it and they will use it to emboldenthemselves and entrench themselves so that they can continue to operate andmarginalize all the marginalized people in Sudan," he said.
Gatkuoth denied his government has beenunfairly accusing its northern partners.
"Youknow the history of the National Congress Party is known to any Sudanese. Whatthey always do is sign an agreement with any political party or any movementand then when you have an agreement with them, the intention for them is to continue to use that agreementas a tool to empower themselves, (but) not to change the system," Gatkuoth said.
Hesaid the south feels the need to rebuild Sudan as a whole.
"Asof now, we need to fix Sudan. Sudan is a mess and this is why the SPLM (Sudan'sPeople Liberation Movement) is calling for a new Sudan. We need to fix it," hesaid.
Gatkuoth said there were indications thatWashington would lift some sanctions.
"TheU.S committed themselves to lift the sanctions, but what happened after theagreement? Darfur broke out; they continued to do killings in Darfur. Then howdo you expect the sanctions to be lifted if they are continuing to kill ourpeople in Darfur? Gatkuoth asked.
Meanwhile,Special Envoy Scott Gration is scheduled to travel to Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa Fridayto witness ongoing talks between Darfur rebels aimed at finding a lastingsolution to the six-year war in the restive Darfur region.