Sudan, Russia Discuss Boosting Cooperation on Different Levels

The Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, with the Russian Deputy Defense Minister, General Alexander Movin, and delegations in Moscow (SUNA)
The Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, with the Russian Deputy Defense Minister, General Alexander Movin, and delegations in Moscow (SUNA)
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Sudan, Russia Discuss Boosting Cooperation on Different Levels

The Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, with the Russian Deputy Defense Minister, General Alexander Movin, and delegations in Moscow (SUNA)
The Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, with the Russian Deputy Defense Minister, General Alexander Movin, and delegations in Moscow (SUNA)

Russia and Sudan announced their intention to boost cooperation in various political and military fields.

Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council Mohamed Hamdan 'Hemedti' Dagalo, met in Moscow with the Russian Deputy Defense Minister, General Alexander Movin, and discussed bilateral relations and ways to promote them.

The Sudanese News Agency said the two sides stressed the need to intensify cooperation and activate the ministerial committees. They called for holding bilateral meetings soon.

Hemedti praised the distinguished relations between the two countries and the coordination at all levels.

He pointed out that the great reception of the delegation and the meetings confirm Russia's interest in Khartoum, noting that Sudan has great potential, which can represent an excellent opportunity for Russian investments.

Movin lauded the distinguished historical friendship with Sudan, declaring a commitment to strengthening prospects for cooperation and increasing joint coordination.

He stressed that his country deals with Sudan following the principles of non-interference in countries' internal affairs.

Meanwhile, Sudanese mothers and fathers joined the protests led by the youth calling for the return of civilian rule.

Thousands of mothers and fathers, primarily elderly, marched in Khartoum and other cities in massive protests against the excessive violence used by the security services to suppress the popular movement.

They gathered in al-Siteen Street, east of Khartoum, under the slogan "We Support You" in support of the demonstrations led by young men and women for months against the measures announced by the army on October 25.

Families of the victims also participated in the protests, carrying the picture of their children killed by the security forces.

The protests were led by top leaders of the Forces of Freedom and Change alliance and other parties, notably the deputy head of the National Umma Party Sarah Naqdallah, the head of the Sudanese Congress Party Omar al-Digair, and the leader of the Communist Party, Mohammad Mukhtar al-Khatib, along with dozens of poets, writers, and artists.

Over 100 women's organizations and union bodies against the regime also joined the protests of the mothers and fathers.

The resistance committees in Khartoum are scheduled to announce Sunday the charter for establishing the people's authority to restore democracy.

The committees said in a press circular that the charter is proposed to establish the people's authority. They held extensive consultations and discussions to overcome the obstacles.

They delayed announcing the charter for further adjustments and revisions, aiming to publish it to the public in the best way possible.



Blinken Seeks to Avert Syria Turmoil with Europeans on Final Trip

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) met French FM Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris. Ludovic MARIN / POOL/AFP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) met French FM Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris. Ludovic MARIN / POOL/AFP
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Blinken Seeks to Avert Syria Turmoil with Europeans on Final Trip

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) met French FM Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris. Ludovic MARIN / POOL/AFP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) met French FM Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris. Ludovic MARIN / POOL/AFP

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was heading on Thursday to Rome for talks with European counterparts on bringing stability to Syria in the face of flare-ups with Türkiye, capping what is likely his final trip.
Blinken had been expected to remain in Italy through the weekend to join President Joe Biden but the outgoing US leader scrapped his trip, which was to include an audience with Pope Francis, to address wildfires sweeping Los Angeles.
Blinken, on a trip that has taken him to South Korea, Japan and France, was heading on Thursday from Paris and will meet for dinner in Rome with counterparts from Britain, France, Germany and Italy.
In Paris on Wednesday, Blinken said the United States was united with the Europeans on seeking a peaceful, stable Syria, a month after the opposition factions toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.
But concerns have mounted over Türkiye’s threats against Syrian Kurdish fighters, who have effectively run their own state during the brutal civil war engulfing Syria.
A war monitor said that battles between Turkish-backed groups, supported by air strikes, and Kurdish-led forces killed 37 people on Thursday.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have worked with the United States on Washington's main stated priority -- battling the ISIS extremist group -- but Türkiye says the SDF has links with PKK militants at home.
Blinken in Paris said that Türkiye had "legitimate concerns" and that the SDF should gradually be integrated into a revamped national army, with foreign fighters removed.
"That's a process that's going to take some time. And in the meantime, what is profoundly not in the interest of everything positive we see happening in Syria would be a conflict," Blinken told reporters.
"We'll work very hard to make sure that that doesn't happen."
Blinken said he expected no change on goals in Syria from US President-elect Donald Trump, who takes over on January 20.
During his last term, Trump briefly said he would accede to a plea by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to pull out US troops that have been working in Syria with the Kurdish forces.
But he backed down after counter-appeals led by French President Emmanuel Macron.
When to ease sanctions?
Also on the agenda in Rome will be whether and when to ease sanctions on Syria.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Wednesday that some sanctions "could be lifted quickly".
The US Treasury Department said this week it would ease enforcement on restrictions that affect essential services.
But US officials say they will wait to see progress before any wider easing of sanctions -- and the Biden administration is unlikely in its final days to accept the political costs of removing Syria's victorious Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels from the US "terrorism" blacklist.
While Western powers are largely in synch on Syria, some differences remain.
Blinken reiterated US calls on European countries to repatriate citizens of theirs detained in Syria for working with the ISIS group and languishing in vast camps run by the Kurdish fighters.
France and Britain, with painful memories of attacks by homegrown extremists, have little desire to bring militants back.
The Rome talks come a week after the French and German foreign ministers, Jean-Noel Barrot and Annalena Baerbock, jointly visited Damascus and met new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa to encourage an inclusive transition.
Sharaa, has promised to protect minorities after the fall of the iron-fisted but largely secular Assad.
A senior US official in turn said last month on meeting Sharaa that Washington was dropping a $10-million bounty on his head.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani will pay his own visit to Syria on Friday, during which he plans to announce an initial development aid package.
Italy's hard-right government has pledged to reduce immigration. Millions of Syrians sought asylum in Europe during the civil war, triggering a backlash in some parts of the continent that shook up European politics.
In contrast to other major European powers, Italy had moved to normalize ties with Assad just weeks before he fell, presuming at the time that he had effectively won the war.