Sudan’s president travels to Saudi Arabia for talks with King Abdullah

December 29, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir will arrive tomorrow in Saudi Arabia for talks with King Abdullah Bin Abdel-Aziz, according to state media

This is the third visit by Bashir to Saudi Arabia since an arrest warrant was issued for him by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Persian Gulf state is not a state party to The Hague based court with no legal duty to arrest him.

Sudan news agency (SUNA) quoted the Sudanese ambassador to Riyadh Abdel-Hafiz Mohamed as saying that the visit comes as a show of solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its right to defend its territorial integrity.

The Sudanese envoy is referring to the military campaign waged by Riyadh against Shi’ite Muslim insurgents who crossed the border into the kingdom. The Yemeni government is also battling with the same rebels believed to be backed by Iran.

Bashir has twice phoned his Saudi counterpart over the last few months to voice his support to Riyadh. The Sudanese head of state also told the visiting Iranian foreign minister Manoucher Mottaki that the insurgency of Yemeni rebels is a threat to the stability of the region.

He also said that the countries in region including Iran should all cooperate for the purpose of maintaining stability.

During Bashir’s visit, both sides will discuss agricultural cooperation and food security as well as incentives to encourage investment in Sudanese farmland to supply the Saudi market.

(ST)