Sudan Denounces Ethiopia’s Accusation of Territorial Violation

Ethiopians fleeing intense fighting in their homeland of Tigray, gather in the neighboring Sudanese Village 8, east of the town of Gadarif. (AFP file photo)
Ethiopians fleeing intense fighting in their homeland of Tigray, gather in the neighboring Sudanese Village 8, east of the town of Gadarif. (AFP file photo)
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Sudan Denounces Ethiopia’s Accusation of Territorial Violation

Ethiopians fleeing intense fighting in their homeland of Tigray, gather in the neighboring Sudanese Village 8, east of the town of Gadarif. (AFP file photo)
Ethiopians fleeing intense fighting in their homeland of Tigray, gather in the neighboring Sudanese Village 8, east of the town of Gadarif. (AFP file photo)

Sudan strongly denounced statements that it had violated Ethiopia’s international borders.

Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen told parliament on Wednesday that his country is pursuing peaceful means to regain land forcefully occupied by Sudanese troops in late 2020, a reference to the al-Fashaqa region.

Addis Ababa prefers dialogue to resolve the issue and maintain the “deep” ties between both peoples, Ethiopian News Agency ENA quoted him as saying.

Mekonnen vowed to work jointly to find a lasting solution to the border issue.

However, he regretted what he described as Sudan’s violation of Ethiopia's borders while it was engaged in law enforcement operations - the war between the federal forces and forces loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front).

He accused Sudanese forces of displacing civilians and sabotaging property in the areas they “occupied.”

The FM further slammed Sudan’s ongoing attempts to change the geography and demography of the invaded areas, stressing that “it is totally unacceptable.”

Khartoum deemed Mekonnen’s statements as “false and misleading,” calling on Addis Ababa to avoid spreading hate speech and escalating tensions.

Its Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Thursday noting that Mekonnen’s remarks violate Ethiopia’s recognition of what was stated in the “colonial agreements” - a reference to the 1902 and the 1959 border treaties, as well as the exchanged memos between both countries on July 18, 1972.

The Ministry said Mekonnen's remarks came “at a time the region needs stability and calm.”

Khartoum has redeployed its security forces within its borders, in assertion to its sovereignty over its lands and its internationally recognized borders, the ministry added.

The Ministry called on Ethiopia to resume the work of the joint border committees as soon as possible and engage seriously in the process of completing the marking out of demarcation lines.



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.