United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Khartoum
Media Monitoring Report (MMR)
Wednesday October 8
Headlines:
§ Dr. Nafie back home concluding visit to France (SUNA)
§ Joint tripartite mechanism discusses details of deployment of the
hybrid operation in Darfur (SUNA)
§ President Al-Bashir Receives Sadik Al-Mahdi (SUNA)
§ Kiir and Taha agree on speeding up of Joint Steps of People of Sudan
Initiative for Darfur Peace (SUNA)
§ Released Detainee Mustafa Ibrahim Reveals Forms of Torture at
Guantnamo Prison (SUNA)
§ Salva Kiir Inaugurates Juba Bridge (SUNA)
§ Justice and Equality Movement loots 150 heads of cattle from Rezaigat
(SUNA)
§ Dr. Al-Jaz to partake in IMF and World Bank meetings (SUNA)
§ Meeting to Take Place in Khartoum to Prepare for Muslim Convention in
the South (SMC)
§ Technical Committee for Demarcation of Boundaries Starts Description
of General Line between North & South (SMC)
§ Darfur: Ban outlines timetable towards full deployment of
peacekeeping force (UN News)
§ Kenya dismisses tanks 'evidence' (BBC)
§ FIRST MEETING OF THE AU, UN, GoS TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE’S ON THE
DEPLOYMENT OF THE AU-UN HYBRID OPERATION IN DARFUR (UNAMID PR)
Main Highlights:
Dr. Nafie back home concluding visit to France
Khartoum, 8 October 2008 (SUNA)- Assistant of the President of the
Republic Dr. Nafie Ali Nafie returned home Tuesday evening concluding a
visit to France during which he held talks with a number of French
officials.
Dr. Nafie said in a press statement that the visit was successful and
tackled a number of issues of mutual concern, pointing out that support
to the Qatari initiative and the joint mediation, which was led by UN-AU
Joint chief mediator Ambassador Bassole, was affirmed, indicating that
agreement was reached on making the initiative a success and bringing
together the two initiatives.
Dr. Nafie pointed that the meetings with the French officials discussed
a number of issues besides the issue of deployment of the UNAMID, where
there was no difference as all know that Sudan has extended all that are
required for facilitating the operation, as the meetings also dealt with
the importance of contributions by donors in supporting UNAMID to
complete its troops and receive the logistic support.
Dr. Nafie added that the talks also tackled the Sudanese-Chadian
relations, pointing out that they explained the efforts exerted by Sudan
for normalizing relations with Chad, welcoming any French role to help
the African initiative (Dakar initiative).
Dr. Nafie reiterated Sudan's position rejecting dealing with the
International Criminal Court (ICC), pointing out that they clearly
explained Sudan's firm position towards the ICC that has no jurisdiction
over Sudan as it is not a member of the court and that Sudan will not
deal with it and will not hand over any Sudanese national.
Dr. Nafie said the allegations of the ICC have negative effects on the
peace process in Sudan.
Joint tripartite mechanism discusses details of deployment of the hybrid
operation in Darfur
Khartoum, 8 October 2008 (SUNA) - The joint tripartite mechanism between
the Government, the United Nations and the African Union (AU),
co-chaired by Maj. Gen. Magzoub Rahama, UN Undersecretary General for
Field Support Ms. Susana Malcorra and AU Commissioner for Peace and
Security Ramadan Al-Amamrah, discussed at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Tuesday details pertinent to the deployment of the hybrid
operation in Darfur and the role of each party in this regard.
Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Ali Al-Sadik
described in a press statement the meeting as fruitful and aimed at
boosting coordination between the three parties of the one mission,
which is the peace-keeping operation by UNAMID troops, pointing to the
importance of coordination between the three parties as partners for
accomplishing one mission, specially that Ms. Malcorra would present a
report to the Security Council in current October.
President Al-Bashir Receives Sadik Al-Mahdi
Khartoum, 8 October 2008 (SUNA)- President of the Republic Field Marshal
Omer Al-Bashir has affirmed commitment of the Government of National
Unity to implementation of the Initiative of the People of Sudan and
supporting the Arab initiative for boosting the peace process in Darfur.
The President of the Republic, receiving Chairman of National Ummah
Party Sadik Al-Mahdi at the Guest House Tuesday, expressed appreciation
over the role being played by the National Ummah Party to support the
government's efforts to boost stability in the country. Al-Mahdi, in a
press statement to SUNA, pointed out that the regular meeting with the
President of the Republic and the leaderships of the National Congress
comes in the context of consultations on the coming stage of the
Initiative of the People of Sudan, which should be carried out without
exclusion of anyone.
He said consultations were made on these issues and on preparations for
the coming visions pertinent to the Arab initiative in the context of
uniting national visions for solving the problems of the country.
Kiir and Taha agree on speeding up of Joint Steps of People of Sudan
Initiative for Darfur Peace
Juba, 8 October 2008 (SUNA) - First Vice President of the Republic and
President of the Government of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit and
Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha have underscored importance of
expediting of the joint steps of the People of Sudan Initiative for
restoring peace in Darfur and exerting all efforts to make the Qatari
Initiative a success and realizing comprehensive and durable peace in
the country.
This came at the conclusion of the talks they held at the Secretariat
General of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) in Juba Monday where
deliberations were made on the efforts of the Government of National
Unity (GoNU) for implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement
(CPA) and completion of Darfur and eastern Sudan peace.
Agreement was reached on acceleration of forwarding nominees for the
Council of Political Parties' Affairs and the National Elections
Commission.
Taha briefed Kiir on the participation of Sudan delegation in the
meetings of the United Nations General Assembly in New York recently and
the diplomatic and political efforts the delegation exerted with the
international and regional organizations to explain Sudan's position
towards the allegations of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal
Court.
GoSS Vice President Dr. Riek Machar said in press statement, following
the meeting, that Taha's visit to Juba reviewed progress of CPA
implementation and a number of important files between the two partners.
The two sides agreed upon resumption of the meetings of the Joint
Political and Executive Committee co-chaired by Taha and Machar on
October 13 to complete presentation and discussion of the specialized
subcommittees' reports. Machar pointed out that that the two sides also
agreed on importance of reactivation of Joint Darfur Committee between
the two partners, noting that the two partners urged the committee to
commence its works to pave the way for the Qatari initiative.
Released Detainee Mustafa Ibrahim Reveals Forms of Torture at Guantnamo
Prison
Khartoum, 8 October 2008 (SUNA) - The Sudanese detainee at Guantanamo,
Mustafa Ibrahim Mustafa, who was released lately after seven years has
disclosed dimension of the suffering that he faced at the notorious
prison since his arrest in Pakistan in the year 2001.
At a press conference he held Tuesday at the premises of the
International Civil Aid Organization in Khartoum, Mustafa said that he
went to Pakistan for education and trade, but he and others were
arrested after the incidents of September 11 by local elements in
Pakistan and were handed over to the American forces.
Mustafa was born in 1967, graduated at the University of Khartoum -
Faculty of Arts, worked in trade fields and married and father of four
children.
He said that they were then transported to Guantanamo prison where
several aspects of torture had been inflicted on them, adding that no
one can avoid torture unless he says that he had participated in the war
against the Americans.
Mustafa said that they observed the insult of the holy Quran book at the
prison, and were prevented from Azan (call for prayer) and prayer in
group, a matter that greatly increased their suffering and bitterness.
He said that part of the detainees were unconscious and sick of hysteria
due to severe pain in their eyes and ears and other diseases during
their transportation to Guantanamo prison..
Mustafa called on the officials to exert every possible effort for the
release of the remaining three Sudanese detainees at Guantanamo prison,
lauding the efforts done by the government and the Sudanese efforts and
organizations that culminated in the release of a number of Sudanese
detainees from Guantanamo.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the International Civil Aid Organization, Hassan
Al-Mujamar, said at the press conference that Mustafa Ibrahim Mustafa
was the sixth Sudanese detainee to be released from Guantanamo prison
after Sami Mohi-Eddin Al-Haj, Amir Yagoub Mohamed Al-Amin, Walid Mohamed
Al-Haj, Salem Mohamed Adam and Adel Hassan Mohamed.
He said that the Sudanese detainees who are still in detention at
Guantanamo are Ibrahim Ahmed, Mohamed Nour Osman and Ibrahim Ahmed
Mohamed Al-Quosi, indicating that the International Civil Aid
Organization will work in solidarity with the concerned circles
internally and abroad for the release of all the detainees and closure
of the notorious prison.
Al-Mujamar referred to the various efforts that were exerted for the
release of the Sudanese detainees at Guantanamo, calling on the Arab and
Islamic countries to work for the release of their nationals who are
currently in Guantanamo detention.
He indicated that 267 persons are still in Guantanamo detention, adding
that 10 of them were referred to trial at courts but the American
authorities have failed to provide clear-cut charges against them.
He said that the American administration did not give any apology to the
released detainees until now, calling on the Arab League, the
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and the African Union to issue
statements demanding the release of all the detainees at Guantanamo
prison.
Al-Mujamar said that the international agreements for combating
terrorism shall not be a means to incriminate innocent people who are
engaged in Da\awa, Charity and education fields.
Salva Kiir Inaugurates Juba Bridge
Juba, 8 October 2008 (SUNA)- First Vice-President of the Republic and
President of the Government of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit
inaugurated Monday Juba Bridge linking Juba, Torit and Bur after its
rehabilitation.
Salva Kiir, addressing the inauguration ceremony, pointed out that roads
and bridges are considered one of the priorities of his government,
indicating to the strategic importance of the opening of Juba Bridge
Justice and Equality Movement loots 150 heads of cattle from Rezaigat
Khartoum, 8 October 2008 (SUNA)-The Justice and Equality Movement has
looted 150 heads of cattle from Rezaigat tribe and 40 heads of camel
from the nomads in eastern Jebel Moon area.
Member of the Council of the States Abdalla Khatir Hasabal-Rasoul told
SUNA that some armed movements turned into bandits of armed robbery in
the framework of seeking resources for funding their military
operations.
Dr. Al-Jaz to partake in IMF and World Bank meetings
Khartoum, Oct. 7 (SUNA) - Minister of Finance and National Economy Dr.
Awad Al-Jaz on October 9 will leave for Washington to partake in the
annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World
Bank, which started there Sunday.
The meeting will discuss regional and international economic and
financial issues, SUNA learnt.
Sudan is expected to discuss benefiting from the HIPC initiative. State
Minister at the Ministry of Finance Dr. Luwal Deng left to Washington
heading advanced delegation drawing the Governor of the Central Bank of
Sudan and other experts.
Meeting to Take Place in Khartoum to Prepare for Muslim Convention in
the South
Khartoum, 8 October 2008 (SMC) -- Islamic corporation for Muslims in
southern Sudan would hold a meeting next week in Khartoum aims at making
preparation of the corporation convention scheduled for next November in
Juab town.
Member of steering committee for southern Sudan Muslims affairs Mango
Ajak told (smc) that the committee starts receiving Muslims facilities
in the south such as Zakat and endowment confiscated sometimes ago by
the government of southern Sudan (GOSS).
He pointed out that elections would take place in the south to form
Muslims corporation. He said elections would run in the ten states of
southern region without isolation of any Muslim on the background of
political affiliation.
Ajak told (smc) that eight committees formed to supervise election
process.
It notes that FVP Salva Kir has visited Muslim corporation premises in
Juba during Id Al Fiter and promised maintains Muslims rights in the
south.
Technical Committee for Demarcation of Boundaries Starts Description of
General Line between North & South
Khartoum, 8 October 2008 (SMC) -- The technical committee for
demarcation of boundaries between north and south starts description of
boundaries based on borderline of first of January 1956.
Head of the committee Abdallah Al Asdig Ali told (smc) that his
committee would submit a preliminary report on this matter by next
November and its final report planned be submit by April next year. He
explains that the committee works aggressively to finish its mission on
the schedule. However, he denies existence of any obstacles facing the
committee''s mission.
Darfur: Ban outlines timetable towards full deployment of peacekeeping
force
New York, 7 October 2008 (UN News Centre) – The “severely stretched”
United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, which has
struggled to find enough countries willing to supply troops and
equipment, should now reach two-thirds of its full deployment by the end
of this year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.
Some 85 per cent of the 26,000 troops and police officers expected when
the peacekeeping mission, known as UNAMID, is at full capacity should
then be in place by next March, “despite the many obstacles,” Mr. Ban
told a press conference at UN Headquarters, adding that he may have to
adjust the figure slightly depending on the circumstances on the ground.
Only about 10,000 uniformed personnel are currently deployed in Darfur,
an impoverished, arid region in western Sudan that has been the centre
of fierce fighting and widespread humanitarian suffering since 2003.
Senior UN officials have repeatedly called on countries to provide the
necessary blue helmets and equipment, particularly helicopters, so that
UNAMID can carry out its mandate.
Mr. Ban said today that the first Egyptian and Ethiopian battalions will
be deployed by the end of this month and he has spoken with the leaders
of Thailand, Nepal and Ukraine about contributing troops and equipment.
“Yesterday I spoke with the Prime Minister of Thailand [Somchai
Wongsawat] with a view toward securing the deployment of a Thai
battalion in Darfur,” he said. “I also discussed this matter with the
Prime Minister of Nepal [Pushpa Kamal Dahal] during the General Debate
[of the General Assembly last month].
"As you know, the Government of Sudan has approved the deployment of
both Thai and Nepalese military units. They were very positive
conversations and I am assured that the Thai and Nepali Governments will
move ahead as soon as possible.”
Turning to Ukraine, the Secretary-General said he explored the
possibility of deploying military helicopters and personnel during his
meeting with President Viktor Yushchenko on the sidelines of the General
Debate.
“We have had subsequent discussions with the Ukrainian Defence Minister
[Yuriy Yekhanurov] in New York. These efforts are continuing.”
Mr. Ban warned that the situation in Darfur, where rebels are fighting
Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen, continues to
deteriorate.
“We are seeing increasing attacks on UN and international [aid] staff.
The UNAMID mission is severely stretched.”
Yesterday a Nigerian soldier serving with UNAMID was killed following an
ambush of a routine mission patrol in South Darfur state by 40 to 60
unknown attackers wearing civilian clothes. He was the ninth UN soldier
to die in Darfur in the past three months.
The blue helmet, who was taking part in a nine-vehicle, 50-strong patrol
between Nyala and Khor Abeche when the ambush occurred near Menawashei,
died during his medical evacuation to Nyala.
The mission reported that UNAMID forces later captured one of the
attackers and handed him to Sudanese Government police in Nyala, which
is the South Darfur state capital.
UNAMID said it would investigate the cause and circumstances of the
attack, adding it was stepping up its patrols in the area near
Menawashei.
Mr. Ban strongly condemned the attack in a statement issued through his
spokesperson, offering his condolences to the Nigerian Government and to
the friends and family of the deceased.
“Both the Government of Sudan, as well as the concerned armed movements
operating in the area, bear responsibility for the provision of security
and for refraining from attacks against civilians as well as UN
peacekeeper,” the statement noted.
Mr. Ban stressed that “all parties have a responsibility to respect the
mandate and integrity” of UNAMID, which has been in place in Darfur
since January this year, taking over from the under-resourced African
Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS).
Asked by journalists today about whether the Security Council should
pass a resolution suspending the International Criminal Court (ICC)
indictment of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, Mr. Ban stressed that
the ICC is independent and its decisions and judgements should be
respected and protected.
"The Sudanese Government should fully cooperate to ensure that this
peace process, as well as the safety and security and deployment of the
hybrid [UNAMID] operation progress as smoothly [and] as expeditiously as
possible while they also look at this issue of taking very credible
judicial measures to meet the expectations and requirements of the
International Criminal Court."
An estimated 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur over the past
five years as a result of direct combat, disease, malnutrition or
reduced life expectancy, while another 2.7 million people have been
displaced from their homes.
Today, in Khartoum, the first meeting of the tripartite committee –
comprising representatives of the UN, AU and Sudanese Government – was
held to review the deployment of UNAMID and outline practical solutions
to logistical and other challenges which the mission faces.
The three parties agreed “to take every possible step to speed up the
deployment,” according to a press release issued by UNAMID, and also
backed a set of measures to achieve that accelerated roll-out.
Susana Malcorra, Under-Secretary-General for Field Support, later warned
that “the challenges are very high and so we do request the support of
the Government of Sudan, without which we cannot achieve this
objective.”
Kenya dismisses tanks 'evidence'
Nairobi, 8 October 2008 (BBC) -- A Kenyan minister has denied BBC
reports that the tanks seized by Somali pirates were bound for South
Sudan.
According to the cargo's manifest, obtained by the BBC, the contract
included the phrase "GOSS", widely used to mean the Government Of South
Sudan.
But Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula said it meant General Ordinance
Supplies and Security and that this was a code for the department of
defence.
The Ukrainian ship carrying the tanks is still moored off the Somali
coast.
The MV Faina is surrounded by warships from the US, Russia and other
countries.
Last week, the Somali government said the ship's owners were involved in
direct negotiations with the pirates, who are demanding a $20m (£11m)
ransom.
Kenya has always insisted that the military hardware was destined for
its army but refused to comment on the BBC evidence on Tuesday.
But various military and diplomatic sources say it was being passed on
to South Sudan.
They told the BBC on Tuesday that the GOSS in the contract did indeed
mean Government Of South Sudan.
The BBC's Karen Allen in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, says that although
the import of military hardware to Sudan is not illegal, if the weapons
were being passed on, it would put Kenya in a tight spot diplomatically
as Kenya helped broker an end to the civil war between South Sudan and
the government in Khartoum in 2005.
But Francis Nazario, head of South Sudan's mission in Brussels, said he
had seen the manifest and it did not prove anything.
"What I know is that we have nothing at all to do with the content of
this ship, and the ship was not heading for South Sudan," he told the
BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
"I think if there was anything like that we would not hide it because
constitutionally we have the right to do so, to bring arms from
anywhere."
Military balance
On Tuesday, a Kenyan court granted bail to Andrew Mwangura, a spokesman
for the Kenyan chapter of the Seafarers' Assistance Programme, who had
been arrested after he said the tanks were bound for South Sudan.
Mr Mwangura was charged with making alarming statements and illegal
possession of marijuana.
However, he has not yet raised the 200,000 shillings, ($2,700) and so he
is still in custody.
Last week, Western military experts told the BBC that the tanks on board
the MV Faina were going to Sudan and that the shipment indicated an arms
race between northern and southern Sudan had begun.
They are reported to both be building up their forces ahead of a
referendum on independence for the South in 2011.
The military experts, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a
previous delivery of tanks had taken place last November.
FIRST MEETING OF THE AU, UN, GoS TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE’S ON THE
DEPLOYMENT OF THE AU-UN HYBRID OPERATION IN DARFUR
El Fasher, 08 October 2008 (UNAMID -– The African Union (AU), United
Nations (UN), Government of Sudan (GoS), Tripartite Committee for the
Deployment of UNAMID, the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur, held its
first meeting yesterday, at the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in
Khartoum.
Leading the Tripartite Committee delegations were the AU Commissioner
for Peace and Security, Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra; the UN
Undersecretary-General for Field Support, Ms Susana Malcorra; and, for
the Government of Sudan, Major-General Magzub Rahama El-Badawi.
Mr. Rodolphe Adada, the AU-UN Joint Special Representative (JSR) also
took part in the meeting.
The Committee was established as a result of consultations that took
place between the three parties on the fringes of the AU Summit of July
2008 in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, to review the deployment of UNAMID, the
AU-UN Hybrid Operation, and outline practical solutions to the
challenges this represents.
In their opening remarks, the three parties reiterated their commitment
to take every possible step to speed up the deployment of UNAMID, guided
by the spirit of partnership, to achieve this goal.
The three parties discussed all pending issues and agreed on a set of
concrete measures to facilitate this deployment.
Briefing the press, UN Under-Secretary-General Malcorra said she was
here with the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security and the JSR, to
discuss with GoS details concerning the logistical aspects of the
deployment of the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur and actions required
to ensure that it was expeditious and effective. “The challenges are
very high and so we do request the support of GoS, without which we
cannot achieve this objective” she added.
AU Commissioner Lamamra expressed the hope that “the conclusions reached
at today’s meeting would be fully implemented, in order to see real
changes on the ground and to realize our ultimate
goals of peace and stability in Darfur.”
Ambassador Ali Al Sadiq, the Spokesman of the Sudanese Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, described the meeting as cordial, pointing out that
“the three parties have been working as partners and that they are
determined to accomplish their common mission.”
**********
UNAMID Communication and Public Information Division Media Contacts
Kemal Saïki, Director; [EMAIL PROTECTED] – tel.: +249 (0) 92 244 3529;
mobile: +249 (0) 92 241 0020
Noureddine Mezni, Spokesperson; [EMAIL PROTECTED] – Mobile: +249 (0) 91 274
276 -+249 (0) 91 253 8420
2008-10-08, P. Release, 1st meeting AU, UN, GoS, Tripartite Committee on
UNAMID deployment 1/1
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD
info" group.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected]
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
