Sudan’s junta heads receive EU envoy in Khartoum

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto landed in Khartoum yesterday for a one-day visit to meet with various Sudanese and international stakeholders on behalf of the European Union.

In a statement ahead of his visit, Haavisto said: “This visit comes at an important juncture: an agreement has been reached between the Transitional Military Council and the Alliance for Freedom and Change in Sudan. I wish to sincerely thank the African Union/Ethiopian mediation for their efforts. I will convey EU’s strong messages of support and encourage both sides to continue negotiations in order to solve the still outstanding issues and allow for a swift transfer of power to a civilian government. It is crucial to quickly restore peace, guarantee prosperity, economic recovery, security, democracy and respect of human rights.”

On arrival at Khartoum airport yesterday, Haavisto said: “A peaceful and orderly civilian transition remains the only viable way out of the current crisis in Sudan. The agreement reached last week between the Alliance for Freedom and Change and the Transitional Military Council represents a crucial step in the right direction. The European Union stands ready to support Sudan at this crucial moment of its history.”

Haavisto will also visit Ethiopia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates over the course of the next weeks to discuss the situation in Sudan.

Received at Republican Palace

The official Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reports that the Chairman of Sudan’s ruling Transitional Military Council (TMC), Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan, received Haavisto at the Republican Palace in Khartoum on Thursday, in the presence of the Undersecretary of the Sudan Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Omer Dahab.

El Burhan briefed the Finnish minister on the developments in Sudan under the agreement which was reached between the TMC and the Alliance for Freedom and Change.

Hemeti

The Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Military Council, Lt Gen Mohamed Hamdan ‘Hemeti’, also received the Finnish Foreign Minister.

In a press statement, Haavisto described his meetings with the El Burhan and Hemeti as constructive and fruitful, emphasising that he is visiting Sudan as the envoy of the European Union.

He described the agreement as an important step for realising democracy, justice and freedom, adding that Sudan now has a great opportunity to improve many of its conditions.

Haavisto affirmed that the European Union and Sudan will work together for boosting the cooperation between them in coming period.

Revolution

He congratulated the Sudanese people on the success of their revolution and the achievement of the agreement between the Transitional Military Council and the Alliance for Freedom and Change.

The Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Omer Dahab, has welcomed Haavisto’s visit, highlighting that he is the highest European Union official to visit Sudan in the past period.

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