Al-Bashir’s participation in American-Islamic meeting shrouded in mystery
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king Salman receives President Omer al-Bashir at the Royal Palace in
Riyadh on 24 October 2016 (SPA Photo)
May 17, 2017 (KHARTOUM) - The participation of the Sudanese President
Omer Hassan al-Bashir in the American Islamic summit in Saudi Arabia
in doubt following conflicting statements from Khartoum, Washington
and Riyadh.
The Saudi Minister of State and a member of the Council of Ministers
Mohammed bin Abdul Malik Al-Sheikh Tuesday has arrived in Khartoum on
an unannounced visit and met with Sudan’s Minister of Presidential
Affairs Fadl Abdallah Fadl.
Al-Shiekh didn’t make any press statements after the meeting leaving
room open for interpretation on whether or not he came to extend the
invitation to President Omer al-Bashir to attend the American-Islamic
summit in Riyadh.
Meanwhile, reliable sources told Sudan Tribune Wednesday that the
Saudi official met al-Bashir on Tuesday night in the Guest House
without giving further details.
On Wednesday, the Associated Press said Saudi diplomats confirmed that
al-Bashir has been invited to take part in the historic meeting which
will be held on May 20-21, 2017 with the participation of over 50 Arab
and Islamic leaders.
However, in a press release on Wednesday, the U.S. embassy in Khartoum
reiterated Washington’s position with respect to al-Bashir’s travel,
saying “we oppose invitations, facilitation, or support for travel by
any person subject to outstanding International Criminal Court (ICC)
arrest warrants, including President Bashir”.
The U.S. embassy stressed there has been no change to Sudan’s
inclusion on the United States’ State Sponsor of Terrorism list
(SSTL).
“We have been quite clear with the Government of Sudan on the steps
that need to be taken for us to consider delisting, as well as what
would be required to make progress in easing economic sanctions” read
the press release.
Press reports in Khartoum last week quoted the director of the
president’s office Taha Osman al-Hussein as saying al-Bashir has
received an official invitation from the Saudi monarch to attend the
summit.
Also, in an interview with the Qatar-based Al Sharq newspaper Tuesday,
al-Bashir described his participation in the summit in the presence of
the U.S. President Donald Trump as “leap in Sudan’s relations with the
international community,” saying it responds to those who urge host
countries not to invite him for international summits.
Al-Bashir pointed that the European countries have previously
boycotted meetings in which he took part and put significant pressure
on the host countries not to invite him to participate in any meetings
including the African Summits.
Meanwhile, Sudan’s foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour told reporters in
Geneva that al-Bashir will travel to Riyadh on Friday.
The Sudanese top diplomat, however, refrained from confirming whether
or not al-Bashir would meet Trump, saying:“I can confirm that
President al-Bashir will go to Saudi Arabia the day after tomorrow”.
Later on Wednesday, Ghandour confirmed to Reuters that al-Bashir will
participate in the meeting with Trump, saying he hopes the two
presidents shake hands.
Fearing the presence of Bashir despite their objection, Washington
asked Riyadh "at least to avoid any situation in which Trump and
Bashir are seen together," reported the AP on Wednesday.
Trump will hold three meetings in Riyadh including with the Saudi
King, leaders of the Gulf States and leaders of Arab-Islamic nations.
(ST)
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