UN Welcoming Commitments in Sudan’s ‘Framework Agreement’

Radhouane Nouicer during his press conference in Khartoum on Thursday. (SUNA)
Radhouane Nouicer during his press conference in Khartoum on Thursday. (SUNA)
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UN Welcoming Commitments in Sudan’s ‘Framework Agreement’

Radhouane Nouicer during his press conference in Khartoum on Thursday. (SUNA)
Radhouane Nouicer during his press conference in Khartoum on Thursday. (SUNA)

Radhouane Nouicer, expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan, has welcomed commitments on the human rights contained in the political framework agreement signed between the political forces and the military component.

He expressed hope that this helps “set a roadmap to settle the outstanding issues with a broad participation to achieve freedom, peace, justice and the formation of a civil government."

The expert also welcomed the resumption of legal and institutional reforms with the participation of the largest number of Sudanese citizens in the coming government.

Nouicer said during a press conference in Khartoum that the Human Rights Commission should have pivotal matters in the program of the next government.

He pointed to his visit to Khartoum and West Darfur and to the “huge challenges facing Sudan,” and the issues of displacement and refugees.

“The refugees hope to return to their homes”, he stated, adding that in order to achieve this, security and political stability must be achieved and the full reasons behind their displacement and the conflicts that occurred in general must be resolved.

"During the meetings we held with civil society representatives, their message was to demand accountability for those responsible for human rights violations," he said.

He stressed that accountability and transitional justice issues require credible practical mechanisms that address crimes to represent a new legal structure that prevents the spread of crimes.

Nouicer extended thanks to the authorities in Sudan for their cooperation, facilitation of the mission, and their support for his visit and the frank and constructive discussion on human rights issues in Sudan.

The human rights expert met with the civil society authorities and with many victims of human rights violations in the states of Khartoum and West Darfur.



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.