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Abe to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Arabia Plays Crucial Role in Middle East Peace

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Reuters)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Reuters)
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Abe to Asharq Al-Awsat: Saudi Arabia Plays Crucial Role in Middle East Peace

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Reuters)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Reuters)

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed that Saudi Arabia plays a crucial role in peace and stability in the region and Tokyo supports the internal reform efforts pursued by the Kingdom.

“We are therefore seeking to bolster the strategic partnership between the two countries,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat as Osaka prepares to host the G20 summit on Friday and Saturday.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, is heading Saudi Arabia’s delegation at the summit.

Abe said that he has worked closely with the Crown Prince in bilateral cooperation, as well as on regional and international affairs.

He noted that Tokyo had hosted the third Japanese-Saudi Vision 2030 ministerial meeting on June 17. The discussions underlined the importance of cooperation in various fields, including economy, human resources and cultural exchange.

At the G20 summit, the PM said that he was looking forward to exchanging ideas with Crown Prince Mohammed on how to bolster bilateral ties and cooperation.

Saudi Arabia is scheduled to host the 2020 G20 summit.

Abe told Asharq Al-Awsat that he had held two telephone calls with Crown Prince Mohammed in 2019 and “we are cooperating closely to ensure the success of the Osaka meeting so that we can hand over the presidency of the summit to Saudi Arabia.”

Turning to the situation in the Middle East, Abe said it has become “more complicated” in recent years due to the stalled peace process and war in Syria.

Japan is standing in a neutral position in regards to religion, sect and history and it boasts good ties with all countries in the Middle East. This unique position allows it to exchange ideas with the United States in order to achieve peace and stability in the region, he remarked.

On his visit to Tehran earlier this month, the PM noted that tensions were rising in the Middle East due to Iran, urging the need to avoid armed conflict because peace and stability in the region will lead to prosperity throughout the world, including Japan.

Abe said that he wants Tokyo to play an important role in easing tensions in the region, which is why he made his trip to Iran.

Iran must play a “constructive” role for peace and security to prevail in the region, he stressed. It must respect the nuclear.

The road to easing tensions is riddled with many challenges and Japan will continue its cooperation with concerned parties to achieve this goal.

Addressing the attack on a Japanese oil tanker in the Arabian Gulf while he was visiting Iran, Abe described the development as a “serious threat” to peace and prosperity in his country. He strongly condemned the attack, saying Tokyo will continue to gather information with relevant countries to ensure safe marine navigation in the area.

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Siddiq al-Mahdi: Sudanese Public Unites on Need to End War

Secretary-General of the Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), Siddiq al-Mahdi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Secretary-General of the Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), Siddiq al-Mahdi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Siddiq al-Mahdi: Sudanese Public Unites on Need to End War

Secretary-General of the Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), Siddiq al-Mahdi (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Secretary-General of the Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), Siddiq al-Mahdi (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Siddiq al-Mahdi, Secretary-General of the Sudanese Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces (Taqaddum), stressed the urgent need for humanitarian aid to Sudanese citizens suffering from the ongoing conflict.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat in Addis Ababa, al-Mahdi criticized the National Congress Party for manipulating its alliance with the military to advance its political goals.

Al-Mahdi said he would only engage in the political process if the party ends its connection with the military and security forces.

He highlighted a growing recognition of the need to end the war, noting a shift away from military solutions as a positive sign of Sudanese public opinion converging on the need for peace.

The Taqaddum official said this change has reduced support for the war and increased regional and international calls for its end.

Al-Mahdi warned that the war has caused a severe humanitarian crisis and poses threats to the region, neighboring countries, the Horn of Africa, and Red Sea security.

“The need to stop the war is now urgent, and we must act on this,” he said.

He praised international efforts, including the Paris and Cairo conferences and the UN's attempts to bring the warring sides together in Geneva for aid and protection.

Al-Mahdi also revealed that his coalition had proposed a plan to the military and Rapid Support Forces, focusing on humanitarian aid, political arrangements to end the war, and a transition to civilian democracy.

He stressed that the humanitarian situation cannot wait for the war to end.

“Providing aid and protecting citizens are urgent priorities. We need to act now to deliver aid, even before the war ends,” he said.

He noted that the best approach involves coordinating initiatives from various platforms, including Jeddah, IGAD, and its key member states Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, as well as Bahrain, the UAE, Egypt, the African Union, and the United Nations.

Al-Mahdi emphasized that all these entities are working on humanitarian and peace efforts.

He stated that any alignment among mediators, conflict parties, and civil components is viewed by Taqaddum as a comprehensive process for achieving peace.