President Nicolae Ceausescu of Rumania arrived i Khartoum for a four-day official visit on Thursday (March 31) and almost immediately re-affirmed his country's support for the African struggle against imperialism.

The President, who was accompanied by his wife, was replying to a speech made by Sudan's President Jaafar el-Nimeiry at a banquet in honour of the Rumanian leader. Mr Ceausescu also called for implementation of the united Nations Security Council resolution on the Middle East, passed in November, 1967.

President el-Nimeiry said the Sudan was keen to develop bilateral relations on the basis of full respect for national sovereignty and added that the resumption of diplomatic relations between Sudan and Rumania last December has resulted in fruitful cooperation.

Sudan severed relations with Rumania in December last year, when Rumania exchanged ambassadors with Israel.

SYNOPSIS: A hot day in Khartoum... and a warm welcome for Rumania President Nicolae Ceausescu -- on his first visit to Sudan.

The Sudanese President, Jaafar el-Nimeiry and his wife were on hand to get the Presidential couple, here for a four-day state visit. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were resumed only three months ago. They were severed in nineteen-sixty-nine...when Rumania exchanged ambassadors with Israel.

But President Ceausescu lost no time in calling for implementation of the United Nations resolution on the Middle East -- which says that Israel should return occupied Arab territories.

President el-Nimeiry -- who awarded the Nile Necklace and Star to his Rumanian counterpart -- said Sudan was eager to develop bilateral relations with Rumania. But, he added, this should be on the basis of full respect for national sovereignty.