Sudanese Foreign Minister Interviewed
16 July, 2015KHARTOUM (SUDANOW)—The Sudanese Foreign Minister, Professor Ibrahim Ghandour, spoke, in an interview to SUNA, on Sudan's foreign relations and policies in the Arab and African regions and with the Western countries and the United States of America.
The interview runs as follows:-
SUNA:-Now that you have become the Sudan's chief diplomat, how do you assess the country's external relations and what are your immediate foreign priorities?
Ghandour:-The priority of any foreign ministry is to establish normal and firm relations with all nations of the world but our priorities emphasize on boosting ties with the African and Arab brothers, particularly the neighboring countries, and with the influential countries with which we have well-established partnerships in Southeast Asia, particularly China and Russia too. We also intend to have extensive and strong relations with the United States of America and with the member states of the European Union.
But we generally seek concrete and close ties based on mutual respect and interests and on non-interference in others' domestic affairs with all peace-loving nations.
Q:- The unity of the Sudanese rank and cohesion of the internal front are important factors that enable the Sudanese diplomacy to move efficiently in the international and regional fora for projection of the country's genuine image and for countering the hostile campaigns. How do you view this?
A:- The unity of internal rank has been one of the concerns of all successive governments since June 30 (1989) and until now and, in retrospect, we can see that it was accorded a top priority in the conference of dialogue on peace and all other dialogue conferences, including the inclusive national dialogue initiative that was launched by President Omar al-Beshir in January 2014. The latest statement by the President –the symbol of the nation and its leadership- stressed the dialogue as a top priority and communication with all the Sudanese people as a pre-requisite for conducting a comprehensive dialogue. The unity of rank is therefore given the top priority as it paves the way for construction, sustainable development, security, peace and welfare and a dignified living for all Sudanese people. And for this reason we are approaching all the armed rebels as well as the opposition and allied forces and every Sudanese who is willing to be part of this dialogue. Also for this reason the communal dialogue was launched as complementary to the political dialogue to converge in the end in the inclusive national dialogue. The latter will come up with a Sudanese document that addresses the issues of economy and living conditions, security, peace, national unity, the identity, the political exercise, the freedoms and the responsibility as presented by the President of the Republic.
It is true the hostile campaigns against the Sudan will continue because it decided to take the course of an independent decision. Our motto will always remain: "No Squandered Dignity, No Incomplete Sovereignty". We will proceed in dignity to build extensive and firm relations and partnerships. And along this course, we will come across persons who tell false stories and write counterfeit reports.
It is a public knowledge that ever since the conclusion of the Doha Document for Peace if Darfur (DDPD) (in 2011), the region has been enjoying peace and the situation has been improving every day. The security has reached the highest degree as manifested by the recent elections which were organized in all geographic constituencies of Darfur states without the occurrence of any incident to impair the course of those elections. There is no country in the world where elections can be conducted in all of its parts unless that country enjoys peace and security. We have demonstrated this with documents but some people prefer to be blind-folded, though, thank Allah, the majority of the countries of the world are aware of this and this affirms that we are taking the right course.
Q:- The Sudanese-US relations have become an enigma and the situation is subject to further sanctions on Sudan and retaining its name on the list of states sponsoring terrorism. Do you think it is high time for changing the framework of dialogue through American envoys into a new framework in accordance with agreed upon visions and agenda for discussing the thorny issues?
A:- We look forward to conducting a serious dialogue with the United States of America based on a technical framework about specific issues with an eye to reaching a common understanding. We believe that dialogue within the framework of an envoy that comes to dictate prescriptions which must be carried and returns home has proved a failure. We have frankly informed the American officials of this on several occasions both here in Khartoum and in Washington and we wish the US Administration would appreciate our position on this issue.
The Sudan is a focal state, geographically and politically, in the region and is one of the most secure countries of the region and exercises a regional role in the Arab and African regions. On the other hand, the US is a big power which is concerned with the international peace and security. For this reason, cooperation between the two countries is important and is a pre-requisite and requires the establishment of normal relations for maintenance of peace and security in the region. We wish the US envoy would come with a technical and political intent which would help in conducting a fruitful dialogue.
Q:- You have met the US Charge d'Affaires and it has been reported on the media that the US envoy would arrive in Sudan in the coming days. Have you discussed this visit with the Charge d'Affaires?
A:- As I have previously said, the US envoy used to come as only a person but now we wait for something else. We want him to come not as an individual envoy but in the context of an integrated technical and political task and in this way the dialogue will go on.
Q:- Was the envoy's visit on request by the Charge d'Affaires?
A:- No. But the request for the visit has always been on the bench and, consequently, we have underlined that we welcome any cooperation provided it comes in the framework of a comprehensive dialogue.
Q:- How do you view the Mbeki-led African Union mediation and are there arrangements for resumption of this mediation?
A:- The AUHIP headed by former South African President Thabo Mbeki has remained performing a very important role as a mechanism mandated by the African Union. One of its accomplishments is that it has removed foreign elements from the Sudanese issue because it is an African one. I can say that the AUHIP leadership understands the political developments in Sudan more than any other party. Both President Mbeki and General Abu Bakr Abdul Salam the former Nigerian President are known for their belief in Africanism which implies that African issues must be resolved by Africans, something which is advocated by the Sudan. The two men have continued playing an important role on the issue and the Sudan, as a government, has remained cooperating with them and will continue doing so.
Q:- Why do the Western countries and the United Nations insist on the presence of UNAMID in the Sudan and what is the African Union position on this question?
A:- The African Union position is for the exit strategy according to the protocol under which the UNAMID was established. The exit is provided for in the UNAMID mandate agreement. Some circles insist on its presence as a mechanism that serves their ends of projecting an image of no-peace in Darfur.
Q:- How do you view the present situation in the Arab region, considering the current developments in a number of Arab countries?
A:- The situation in a number of Arab countries is certainly not to the content of any person who is concerned with the interest of this nation, even if he is not an Arab. We look with dismay to what is happening in some of our countries like Iraq, Yemen, Libya and probably other countries. We wish that the Arab countries would sit down together for agreement on a clearly drawn map for elimination of extremism and for achieving stability. Some of those countries used to live in prosperity that cannot be found in many countries of the world but now their people have become displaced in search for food, security and peace. The situation of those Arab countries is therefore dis satisfactory but our consolation lies in the latest move for restoration of the legitimacy in Yemen. This move may serve as an example for all, at least to start as a political move, before turning into a military action, to underline that the unity of the nation comes prior to any other consideration and to show that our Arab nation is capable of overcoming all difficulties. But the present situation is not pleasing. The Sudan has a focal role to play as it is regarded an important state in the region and enjoys better stability than the other states. The Sudan's participation in the "decisive storm" was evidence of its focal and important role. The country will continue playing this role, politically and diplomatically.
Q:- How about restoration of the Sudan's relations with the Gulf States to normalcy and what role can the Sudanese diplomacy play in attracting Arab investments?
A:- The Sudanese relations with the Gulf States have never gone below the normalcy level and the retreat in investment does not mean a retreat in the political relations. The investment environment has a tremendous effect on attracting the investment and the organization which followed the constitutional amendments, particularly with regard to the lands, the changes which were made in the authorities and positions of the governors of the states and the change in the Ministry of Investment may all lead to attraction of new investments. Efforts made by Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail with the Gulf State could restore the Sudan to its place in the lead of nations attracting investment.
Q:- Do you believe the documents published on wiki-leaks would have an impact on the Sudan's relations with Saudi Arabia?
A:- Not at all. Most of those documents are forged.
Q:- The European Union has shown negative attitudes towards the Sudan, while the Foreign Ministry has announced adopting a policy of dealing with the EU member states on a bilateral basis. To what extent could this be achieved?
A:- First of all, what is normal for the Sudan is to deal with the different states on a bilateral cooperation basis. This is the normal transaction and what is taking place now. The Sudan relations with the European states differ from one another; they are normal with some, semi-normal with others and not good with yet others. There are different factors for establishing bilateral relations, for instance there are the sanctions imposed by the US which affect the Sudan relations with European and other countries. The transaction with the EU as a body fluctuates in accordance with its attitudes towards issues it regards as important and we consider as national issues in which other countries must not interfere. But we believe that improvement of the image of the Sudan by the EU actors requires a further breakthrough like what has recently happened and may, God willing, continue. Our dialogue with the EU on this matter will continue.
Q:- Has the Sudan overcome the negative effects of the war in the South after the CPA and secession of the South? What has happened to the pending issues, particularly Abyei region?
A:- There are many pending issues with South Sudan topped by implementation of the agreements signed by the two presidents in December 2012 concerning the Zero Line and Dividing Borders in accordance with the 1 January 1956 borders and the demilitarized zone.
Another issue is the support by the Sudanese rebel movements with weapons the latest of which was the incident of Manga (Goz Dango) area in South Darfur. This support has to be halted. The Sudan looks forward to having normal relations with South Sudan as we place this state among our priorities because we were one nation and one people and we can benefit from each other but this requires a good-will from the other side, a good-will which we have been looking for and will continue searching. The most important dossiers are implementation of the bilateral agreements and stopping the support to the Sudanese rebel movements.
The Sudan is part of IGAD troika for mediation between the two South Sudanese warring parties; it has supported and will remain supporting all mediation efforts, the latest of those efforts was a visit by the African Union envoy Omar Konary to the Sudan. Our country has remained playing a bilateral role through contacts with the two parties; the Sudan has been playing and will continue playing this focal role for reaching peace in South Sudan. But for this role to be strengthened and to achieve its goal, the bilateral ties must be improved and this can be achieved only through implementation of the agreements concluded by the two countries and stoppage of the support to the Sudanese rebel movements.
Q:- You were in charge of the SPLM-N dossier on the Two Regions. Do you expect a breakthrough in this dossier in the framework of the national dialogue?
A:- It is regrettable that with its arrogance and unrealistic demands and ignoring the other internal partners, the SPLM-N made it impossible to reach an agreement. We wish the other party would have derived lessons from the past experience and would have learned that the weapon, however strong, and the external support, however effective, would not be conducive to achieving political dreams to some people and hopes and ambitions to others. The sole course is dialogue which we have been championing for reaching an understanding on how the country will proceed for establishing good governance and rational political exercise for serving the living and economic interests of the people. This objective will be reached only after the other party freed itself from the foreign agenda. The people who talk about the marginalization and the marginalized are the same ones who obstruct the development and undermine such projects and infrastructures as water and electricity and kill in cold blood the people who they claim are marginalized. The latest incident of killing worshipers in a mosque in South Kordofan is considered a crime against humanity which must be denounced by the whole world. However, we still wish those people would resort to reason.
Q:- How do you view the solid positions taken by the Africans in defense and support of the Sudan?
A:- I believe that Africa has been the main supporter to the Sudan's various issues. This Continent represents nearly one-third of the world's political and voting power. It is a promising continent for emancipation from the neo-colonialism. What has recently occurred in South Africa in support of the Sudan was so genuine that placed a tremendous responsibility on the Sudan and made the latter continue granting priority to its African relations, something which we have to prove on coming occasions. The Sudan will remain to be an original part of Africa and will continue an effective member of the African Union.
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