A visiting U.S. Senate delegation to Khartoum on Thursday acknowledged reduction of violence in Sudan's western restive region of Darfur.

"There is a great reduction in the level of violence in Darfur. This is a positive development," Senator Richard Durbin, head of the delegation, told reporters following a meeting with Sudanese Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Mutrif Siddiq.

The U.S. senator, however, linked a full normalization of Sudanese-U.S. relations to the realization of a comprehensive peace in Darfur.

He said for the Sudanese-American relations to be fully normalized, a comprehensive settlement for the Darfur conflict must be reached through a comprehensive peace agreement.

Following the meeting between the U.S. Senate delegation and Siddiq, Spokesman for Sudanese Foreign Ministry Muawiya Osman Khalid told reporters that the meeting reviewed the political developments in Sudan and the government's efforts to find a peaceful settlement to the Darfur issue.

The meeting also touched upon the progress in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and preparations for the general elections, scheduled for April this year, he said.

"The American delegation expressed a great concern with progress of the electoral process and appreciated the developments in Darfur, in particular the security situation," he said.

He said the delegation also expressed hope that the ongoing efforts would continue to develop the Sudanese-American relations.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate delegation commenced a visit to Sudan starting with Juba, capital of south Sudan, where the delegation held talks with the Sudanese First Vice-President and President of the government of southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit.

The delegation is scheduled to meet a number of Sudanese officials to discuss issues between Khartoum and Washington, the American role in the settlement of the Darfur crisis and progress in the implementation of the CPA.

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