‘Sudan at crossroads’: EU Ambassador

Dr Ibrahim Ghandour, Assistant to the President, received Ambassador Tomas Ulicny, Head of the EU Delegation to Sudan. The EU has welcomed the release of Dr Maryam El Mahdi, Co-Vice President of the National Umma Party (NUP). After the meeting, the EU Ambassador informed the press that he conveyed to Dr Ghandour EU’s commitment to peaceful solutions in Sudan. The EU diplomat called on the Sudanese government to continue to support the endeavour and the mediation of the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) chaired by former South-African president Thabo Mbeki, according to a press release by the EU Delegation to Sudan today (Wednesday). Ambassador Ulicny confirmed that international assurance of the National Dialogue, initiated by President Omar Al Bashir, will be achieved when the meetings of the dialogue’s 7+7 Steering Committee commence, all Sudanese parties inside and outside the country are included, all political detainees are released, and basic freedoms are guaranteed.  The Ambassador added that Sudan is at a crossroad, and should benefit from the opportunity to engage in reforms and democratisation. He pledged that the EU will “continue to help the Sudanese to help themselves and is not interested in imposing or interfering in the internal issues of Sudan”. He confirmed EU’s support to the AUHIP mediation team.  Dr Maryam El Mahdi On Tuesday, Ambassador Ulicny met with Dr Jalal El Digeir, Assistant to the President, at the Republican Palace, to review the progress in the EU-Sudanese relations, and the political developments in Sudan.  The EU Ambassador told reporters after the meeting that he conveyed EU’s welcoming of the discharge of Dr Maryam El Mahdi, NUP Co-Vice President from her detention, before the meetings of the 7+7 Committee commence, and the expected visit of AUHIP chairman Thabo Mbeki to Khartoum. “The timing of the release of Dr Maryam is significant in generating impetus in the delayed National Dialogue.”  Ulicny added that the European Union carefully follows the political developments in Sudan, and called for the release of all the political detainees, notably Ibrahim El Sheikh, chairman of the Sudanese Congress Party. “This is necessary to create a conducive environment and trust building measures between all the Sudanese parties to achieve reconciliation, durable peace, democratic transformation and protection of human rights in Sudan.” File photo: Ambassador Tomas Ulicny visiting Seifeldin El Bashir, editor-in-chief of Sudan Vision daily, May 2012 (Sudan Vision)  Related: ‘National Dialogue document positive step’: Sudan opposition (8 September 2014)Sudan committee, opposition agree on National Dialogue (5 September 2014)

Dr Ibrahim Ghandour, Assistant to the President, received Ambassador Tomas Ulicny, Head of the EU Delegation to Sudan. The EU has welcomed the release of Dr Maryam El Mahdi, Co-Vice President of the National Umma Party (NUP).

After the meeting, the EU Ambassador informed the press that he conveyed to Dr Ghandour EU’s commitment to peaceful solutions in Sudan. The EU diplomat called on the Sudanese government to continue to support the endeavour and the mediation of the African Union High Implementation Panel (AUHIP) chaired by former South-African president Thabo Mbeki, according to a press release by the EU Delegation to Sudan today (Wednesday).

Ambassador Ulicny confirmed that international assurance of the National Dialogue, initiated by President Omar Al Bashir, will be achieved when the meetings of the dialogue’s 7+7 Steering Committee commence, all Sudanese parties inside and outside the country are included, all political detainees are released, and basic freedoms are guaranteed. 

The Ambassador added that Sudan is at a crossroad, and should benefit from the opportunity to engage in reforms and democratisation. He pledged that the EU will “continue to help the Sudanese to help themselves and is not interested in imposing or interfering in the internal issues of Sudan”. He confirmed EU’s support to the AUHIP mediation team. 

Dr Maryam El Mahdi

On Tuesday, Ambassador Ulicny met with Dr Jalal El Digeir, Assistant to the President, at the Republican Palace, to review the progress in the EU-Sudanese relations, and the political developments in Sudan. 

The EU Ambassador told reporters after the meeting that he conveyed EU’s welcoming of the discharge of Dr Maryam El Mahdi, NUP Co-Vice President from her detention, before the meetings of the 7+7 Committee commence, and the expected visit of AUHIP chairman Thabo Mbeki to Khartoum. “The timing of the release of Dr Maryam is significant in generating impetus in the delayed National Dialogue.” 

Ulicny added that the European Union carefully follows the political developments in Sudan, and called for the release of all the political detainees, notably Ibrahim El Sheikh, chairman of the Sudanese Congress Party.

“This is necessary to create a conducive environment and trust building measures between all the Sudanese parties to achieve reconciliation, durable peace, democratic transformation and protection of human rights in Sudan.”

File photo: Ambassador Tomas Ulicny visiting Seifeldin El Bashir, editor-in-chief of Sudan Vision daily, May 2012 (Sudan Vision) 

Related:

 ‘National Dialogue document positive step’: Sudan opposition (8 September 2014)

Sudan committee, opposition agree on National Dialogue (5 September 2014)