Bashir, Salva Kiir End Juba-Khartoum Tension

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan's President Salva Kiir in January 2014 (Reuters)
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan's President Salva Kiir in January 2014 (Reuters)
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Bashir, Salva Kiir End Juba-Khartoum Tension

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan's President Salva Kiir in January 2014 (Reuters)
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan's President Salva Kiir in January 2014 (Reuters)

Sudan and South Sudan have agreed to resolve pending disputes and to implement existing agreements between the two countries, in an attempt to end tensions and establish comprehensive reconciliation.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit concluded on Thursday a two-day visit to Khartoum, where he held talks with his counterpart Omar al-Bashir on the outstanding issues between the two countries.

During a joint news conference, Bashir underlined the strong political will to promote cooperation between Khartoum and Juba, and to end the period of tensions that have inflicted heavy burdens on the population.

The Sudanese president described Salva Kiir’s visit as a real and new breakthrough for the relations between the two countries, saying in this regard: “We have agreed to sponsor the implementation of the existing arrangements and to overcome all obstacles through direct communication.”

For his part, Salva Kiir said his talks with Bashir have led to a road map for moving forward.

“We have started and will not retreat ... I ordered my team to implement what we signed immediately, especially the security files, and I am confident that we will achieve positive results,” he stated.

The two presidents concluded their talks by signing a joint statement, stressing the acceleration of joint cooperation agreements, the formation of a border commission, the convening of political consultation committees and the continuation of humanitarian aid to southern Sudan.

According to the statement, the two parties agreed to activate the joint political and security mechanism emanating from joint cooperation agreements, accelerate the establishment of a demilitarized zone, and play an active role in the African Union.

The joint statement, for the first time since the outbreak of oil disputes between the two countries, emphasized the approval of the Government of South Sudan to pay the debts of Sudan, resulting from arrears of fees for the use of Sudanese oil facilities to export oil from South Sudan.



Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)

Italy plans to send an ambassador back to Syria after a decade-long absence, the country’s foreign minister said, in a diplomatic move that could spark divisions among European Union allies.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking in front of relevant parliamentary committees Thursday, announced Rome’s intention to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria to prevent Russia from monopolizing diplomatic efforts in the Middle Eastern country.

Moscow is considered a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has remained in power despite widespread Western isolation and civilian casualties since the start of Syria’s civil war in March 2011.

Peaceful protests against the Assad government — part of the so-called “Arab Spring” popular uprisings that spread across some of the Middle East — were met by a brutal crackdown, and the uprising quickly spiraled into a full-blown civil war.

The conflict was further complicated by the intervention of foreign forces on all sides and a rising militancy, first by al-Qaida-linked groups and then the ISIS group until its defeat on the battlefield in 2019.

The war, which has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million, is now largely frozen, despite ongoing low-level fighting.

The country is effectively carved up into areas controlled by the Damascus-based government of Assad, various opposition groups and Syrian Kurdish forces.

In the early days of the conflict, many Western and Arab countries cut off relations with Syria, including Italy, which has since managed Syria-related diplomacy through its embassy in Beirut.

However, since Assad has regained control over most of the territory, neighboring Arab countries have gradually restored relations, with the most symbolically significant move coming last year when Syria was re-admitted to the Arab League.

Tajani said Thursday the EU’s policy in Syria should be adapted to the “development of the situation,” adding that Italy has received support from Austria, Croatia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Cyprus and Slovakia.

However, the US and allied countries in Europe have largely continued to hold firm in their stance against Assad’s government, due to concerns over human rights violations.