Arab Parliament: Sudan Agreement Step towards Stability

Sudan's top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, on the left, and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok during the deal-signing ceremony to restore the transition to civilian rule. (AFP)
Sudan's top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, on the left, and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok during the deal-signing ceremony to restore the transition to civilian rule. (AFP)
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Arab Parliament: Sudan Agreement Step towards Stability

Sudan's top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, on the left, and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok during the deal-signing ceremony to restore the transition to civilian rule. (AFP)
Sudan's top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, on the left, and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok during the deal-signing ceremony to restore the transition to civilian rule. (AFP)

The Arab Parliament on Monday welcomed the signing of the political agreement between Sudan's top general Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.

“This step heralds a new stage for laying the foundations of security, unity and sustainable stability in Sudan, for protecting the political and economic gains of its people, and achieving their aspirations to accomplish development,” the parliament said in a statement.

It also praised the wisdom and responsibility of the Sudanese parties in reaching an agreement that can guarantee the success of the transitional period, in a way that serves Sudan’s supreme interests.

The parliament expressed confidence in the Sudanese people’s ability to overcome the current stage, particularly in light of the constitutional, legal and political agreement that governs the transitional phase.

Secretary General of the Arab Lawyers Union, Makkawi bin Issa, said the agreement reached between political leaders in Sudan is a return to the right political track and to the constitutional declaration of 2019, which represents a unique and serious step towards achieving political stability in Sudan.

“The wise vision of the two signatories to the agreement defused the crisis and it returned Sudan to the roadmap that guarantees a peaceful transitional period during which the Sudanese people can aspire for stability and progress,” Makkawi said.

Nearly a month after Burhan ousted Hamdok, the two sides signed a breakthrough deal Sunday to reverse the military takeover that had sparked international condemnation and mass protests.

The 14-point deal they signed officially restores the transition to civilian rule that had been derailed by the October 25 putsch in the country.



US Links Ankara-Damascus Normalization to Political Solution in Syria

Meeting between Erdogan and Assad in 2010 (Archive)
Meeting between Erdogan and Assad in 2010 (Archive)
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US Links Ankara-Damascus Normalization to Political Solution in Syria

Meeting between Erdogan and Assad in 2010 (Archive)
Meeting between Erdogan and Assad in 2010 (Archive)

Recent statements by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his willingness to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to normalize relations between the two countries have sparked mixed reactions.
While the Syrian opposition sees the possibility of such a meeting despite the challenges, Damascus views the statements as a political maneuver by the Turks. Meanwhile, the United States has tied the normalization process to achieving a political solution in Syria based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254, issued in 2015.
Turkish media reported on Thursday that a US administration official, who was not named, confirmed that Washington is against normalizing relations with the Syrian regime under Assad. He emphasized that Washington cannot accept normalizing ties with Damascus without progress toward a political solution that ends the conflicts in Syria.
Meanwhile, the head of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, Hadi al-Bahra, stated that a meeting between Assad and Erdogan is possible despite the obstacles. In a statement to Reuters on Thursday, Bahra said the meeting is feasible, even though Ankara is fully aware that the Assad regime cannot currently meet its demands and understands the regime’s limitations.
Bahra pointed out that the UN-led political process remains frozen and that he had briefed US and Western officials on the latest developments in the Syrian file. On Saturday, Bahra participated in a consultative meeting in Ankara with the Syrian Negotiation Commission, along with a high-level delegation from the US State Department, during which they exchanged views on the political solution and the need to establish binding mechanisms for implementing international resolutions related to the Syrian issue.
On the other side, Assad’s special advisor, Bouthaina Shaaban, dismissed Erdogan’s announcement that Ankara is awaiting a response from Damascus regarding his meeting with Assad for normalization as another political maneuver with ulterior motives.
Shaaban, speaking during a lecture at the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was reported by Turkish media on Thursday, stated that any rapprochement between the two countries is contingent on its withdrawal of forces from Syrian territory.