FM Says Sudan Ready for Negotiations to Restore Peace

Acting Foreign Minister Hussein Awad speaks at a press conference in Port Sudan. (AFP)
Acting Foreign Minister Hussein Awad speaks at a press conference in Port Sudan. (AFP)
TT

FM Says Sudan Ready for Negotiations to Restore Peace

Acting Foreign Minister Hussein Awad speaks at a press conference in Port Sudan. (AFP)
Acting Foreign Minister Hussein Awad speaks at a press conference in Port Sudan. (AFP)

The Sudanese government announced on Monday its readiness to hold dialogue with any party in order to reach just peace.

Acting Foreign Minister Hussein Awad said: “We are ready to sit down for peace negotiations. Our only condition is adhering to the agreements reached in Jeddah.”

He stressed that the government was ready for talks with all the Sudanese people and parties to form a clear vision that would shape the next phase in the country and form a civilian government.

In turn, the government would pave the way for elections for people to choose their representatives and the army will guarantee that the polls are held, he told a press conference in Port Sudan.

Moreover, he renewed government assertions that the United Arab Emirates embassy in Khartoum was not targeted in an attack.

He said the government has evidence that the mission was not attacked by its forces.

The UAE embassy is the only mission that the Rapid Support Forces have not attacked or looted, Awad stressed, pledging to protect the Emirates’ mission in Port Sudan.

On the ground, witnesses said army jets carried out a raid on the town of Abu Hajjar in Sennar state, leaving dozens of women, children and elderly dead.



Italy’s PM to Visit Lebanon, Says UN Mission Should Not Be Withdrawn

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivers a speech during a session of communications to the Senate ahead of the European Council, at the Senate in Rome, Italy, 15 October 2024. EPA/VINCENZO LIVIERI
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivers a speech during a session of communications to the Senate ahead of the European Council, at the Senate in Rome, Italy, 15 October 2024. EPA/VINCENZO LIVIERI
TT

Italy’s PM to Visit Lebanon, Says UN Mission Should Not Be Withdrawn

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivers a speech during a session of communications to the Senate ahead of the European Council, at the Senate in Rome, Italy, 15 October 2024. EPA/VINCENZO LIVIERI
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni delivers a speech during a session of communications to the Senate ahead of the European Council, at the Senate in Rome, Italy, 15 October 2024. EPA/VINCENZO LIVIERI

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday she plans to visit Lebanon on Oct. 18, just days after Israeli forces attacked UN bases in the country, drawing anger from many EU capitals, including Rome.

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line with Israel -- an area that has seen serious clashes this month between Israeli troops and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters.

Israel has demanded the withdrawal of the UNIFIL forces, which include just over 1,000 Italian troops, but contributor nations have refused and angrily denounced repeated Israeli strikes against the bases that have injured some peacekeepers.

"We believe that the attitude of the Israeli forces is completely unjustified," Meloni told the upper house of parliament, describing it as a "blatant violation" of a UN resolution that mandated the Lebanese mission.

In a later speech to the lower house, she said: "I believe that a withdrawal on the basis of a unilateral request by Israel would be a big mistake. It would undermine the credibility of the mission itself, the credibility of the United Nations."

Her decision to travel to Lebanon, despite daily attacks on the country by Israel, highlights Italy's determination to support the UN operation and underscores Rome's anger with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the issue.

Meloni's government has been one of the most vocal supporters of Israel over the past year as it battled regional enemies following the Oct. 7 Hamas assault out of Gaza.

"I understand Israel's reasons for needing to prevent what happened last October 7 from happening again, but that obviously does not mean I agree with all its choices." Meloni said.

Since the start of Israel's ground operation in Lebanon on Oct. 1, UNIFIL positions have been targeted 20 times, including by direct fire and an incident on Sunday when two Israeli tanks burst through the gates of a UNIFIL base, the UN has said.

Netanyahu has denied that Israeli troops deliberately struck at UNIFIL peacekeepers.

Italy has formally protested to Israel and joined allies in condemning the attacks on the mission.

Meloni said Hezbollah had also violated the UN resolution and sought "to militarize the area under UNIFIL's jurisdiction", adding that Italy wanted to strengthen the capabilities of UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces.