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OIC Welcomes Saudi-US Initiative on Talks between Sudan Army, RSF in Jeddah

In this picture taken on May 5, 2023, people are pictured aboard the Spanish frigate Reina Sofia during an evacuation from Port Sudan toward Saudi Arabia. (Photo by AFP)
In this picture taken on May 5, 2023, people are pictured aboard the Spanish frigate Reina Sofia during an evacuation from Port Sudan toward Saudi Arabia. (Photo by AFP)
    Asharq Al-Awsat
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OIC Welcomes Saudi-US Initiative on Talks between Sudan Army, RSF in Jeddah

In this picture taken on May 5, 2023, people are pictured aboard the Spanish frigate Reina Sofia during an evacuation from Port Sudan toward Saudi Arabia. (Photo by AFP)
In this picture taken on May 5, 2023, people are pictured aboard the Spanish frigate Reina Sofia during an evacuation from Port Sudan toward Saudi Arabia. (Photo by AFP)

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha welcomed on Saturday the Saudi-US initiative calling for the start of preliminary talks in Jeddah between representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.

The Secretary-General praised the initiative, which is consistent with the text of the statement issued by the Executive Committee of the organization at its last meeting on Wednesday.

The statement called for an immediate halt to the military escalation in a way that preserves the capabilities of the Sudanese people, in light of the huge human losses and the destruction of facilities and infrastructure.

It called for prioritizing dialogue, showing self-restraint and wisdom, and returning as soon as possible to the negotiating table to continue peaceful efforts to resolve the Sudanese crisis.

The Secretary-General called on the delegations negotiating on behalf of the two sides to work to maintain the truce and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population, to work hard to reach an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and to put the national interest of Sudan above everything else to preserve its unity and state institutions, and achieve the aspirations of the Sudanese people to live in security, peace and political stability, and enjoy economic development.

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Syria's New Rulers Urge US to Lift Sanctions During Visit to Doha

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, meets Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, January 5, 2025. (SANA/Handout via Reuters)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, meets Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, January 5, 2025. (SANA/Handout via Reuters)
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Syria's New Rulers Urge US to Lift Sanctions During Visit to Doha

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, meets Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, January 5, 2025. (SANA/Handout via Reuters)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, meets Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, January 5, 2025. (SANA/Handout via Reuters)

Syria's new rulers said on Sunday that US sanctions on Syria were an obstacle to the war-torn country's rapid recovery and urged Washington to lift them during a visit by Syrian officials to Qatar.

"These sanctions constitute a barrier and an obstacle to the rapid recovery and development of the Syrian people who await services and partnerships from other countries," Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani told reporters after meeting with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as foreign minister.

"We reiterate our calls for the United States to lift these sanctions, which have now become against the Syrian people rather than what they previously were: imposed sanctions on the Assad regime," he said.

Shibani, on his second foreign trip less than a month after former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by opposition factions on Dec. 8, said that Qatar will be a partner in the new phase in Syria.

Doha had not normalized ties with Assad over his government's violent response to 2011 protests and backed the opposition instead.

Shibani, who was joined by Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Head of Intelligence Anas Khattab, met with other senior Qatari officials including Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, a Qatari official told Reuters earlier.

Shibani presented the Qataris a clear roadmap for the near future in Syria and steps that would be taken by the new Syrian administration, Al-Khulaifi told reporters after the meeting.

"We are working together to prevent any foreign interference in Syrian affairs," Al-Khulaifi added.

Shibani said the roadmap is meant to "rebuild our country, restore its Arab and foreign relations, enable the Syrian people to obtain their civil and basic rights, and present a government that the Syrian people feel it represents them and all their components."

He is expected to also visit the United Arab Emirates and Jordan this week to "support stability, security, economic recovery and build distinguished partnerships," according to his account on X.

Shibani embarked on his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday where Saudi officials discussed how best to support Syria's political transition.