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Sudan Tribune

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Egypt presidential hopeful declines meeting with Sudan’s Bashir: report

March 9, 2011 (WASHINGTON) – A prospective Egyptian presidential candidate and Nobel peace prize laureate has turned down an invitation to meet with Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir during his visit to Cairo, a newspaper reported today.

Egyptian Nobel Peace laureate and former UN atomic watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei (L) and Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir (R)
Egyptian Nobel Peace laureate and former UN atomic watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei (L) and Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir (R)
The independent Al-Masry Al-Youm quoted sources as saying that Mohamed ElBaradei, who heads the National Coalition for Change (NCC), did not attend the meeting of Egyptian political figures with Bashir.

Rifaat Al-Saeed, who is the chairman of the Al-Tagammu Party, also took a similar stance and skipped the meeting.

The newspaper did not say why the two men declined the invitation. ElBaradei met with Turkish President Abdullah Gul when he visited Cairo last week.

This coincided with ElBaradei’s announcement today that he will run in Egypt’s presidential election this year. The 68-years old figure is the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

On Tuesday, the Sudanese president traveled to Cairo marking the first visit to post-Mubarak Egypt by an Arab leader and one by the only head of state wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Egypt is not a signatory to the ICC’s statute and as such had no obligation to apprehend Bashir. Former president Mubarak had been one of the first leaders to invite his Sudanese counterpart after the issuance of the arrest warrant in what was viewed as a show of solidarity.

Mubarak even scrapped plans to host the third France-Africa summit last year after Paris objected to Cairo’s insistence on inviting Bashir.

Despite this, Bashir was quick to congratulate the Egyptian people when they ousted their veteran leader last month after weeks of protests, hailing the “triumph” of their revolution. He even suggested that Mubarak’s suppression of Islamists led to the demise of his regime.

The Sudanese president met with Field Marshall Tantawi who heads the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and discussed bilateral relations and coordinating regional and international positions, according to state media.

Some observers have linked the visit to the move made by Burundi this month in which it joined an agreement to alter historic water-sharing arrangements for the River Nile that is vehemently opposed by Egypt.

Sudan, is an important ally for Egypt in its efforts to block the initiative by upstream Nile countries that would allow them to implement irrigation and hydropower projects without first seeking Cairo’s consent.

Al-Masry Al-Youm said that Bashir asked for Tantawi’s permission to meet with representatives of political forces in the country.

The report said that only leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood movement and another from the Democratic Front showed up for talks with the Sudanese president at the Qubba Palace in East Cairo.

Isam Al-Aryan from the Muslim Brotherhood said that Bashir urged Egypt to utilize agricultural lands in Sudan for planting wheat. He quoted the Sudanese leader as saying that he had extended this offer to Mubarak’s government in the past but they had rejected it because of U.S. pressure.

Bashir also expressed readiness to receive one million Egyptian farmers, Al-Aryan said.

(ST)

12 Comments

  • Jalaby
    Jalaby

    Egypt presidential hopeful declines meeting with Sudan’s Bashir: report
    Dear Sudantribune,

    I did not understand this article or the importance of it so that you bring it at your first page??!! who is ElBaradei? is he the presdient of Egypty or hold any high position in the current government? does it make any difference whether he meet or not with Basheer?

    Egypt today is not Egypt of yesterday and the people of Egypt have the decision now and not the agent government like Mubarak government which server Israel and the west interest first and against people of Egypt will and interest in return of few dollars and wheat!

    I can assure you, ElBaradei will never win the election because it is going to be true election and Egyptians never trust him because he fled the country when the majority of oppositions in Egypt appointed him to lead the opposition against Mubarak government but he scared and flies away to Europe and came back only when he knew Mubarak is leaving no way! Plus he has dual citizen and the new constitution will not allow him to run for presidency in the first place if approved!

    Jalaby (Abo Tagia)

    Reply
  • Bor Fortunate Son
    Bor Fortunate Son

    Egypt presidential hopeful declines meeting with Sudan’s Bashir: report
    Five thousand dollars reward for valuable information leading to General Athor Deng family whereabouts

    This is not a message but rather a calling for caring citizens of Southern Sudan and Specifically Jonglei State brothers and sisters who are truly believers of actions rather talking.
    Whether you are educate or uneducated, you should be aware by now how they elites individuals such General Athor Deng, Kuol Manyang and thugs from Nuer and Murle turned what supposes to be holy sanctuary for the rest of Southern Sudanese citizens into MISERY STATE of sadness, sorrow, hungry, corruptions, nepotism, and political instability. You name it and its there.

    As a solution, we students (5 members only) of Jonglei State in the Midwest United States have established SOUTHERN SUDAN CRUSADER INC OF AMERICA (SSCA). This is not apolitical party or army whatsoever but a grassroots organization established to provide funding for the greater cause of Southern Sudan and particular in Jonglei State. As of now, we have decided to put our first initiative into action starting with General Athor Deng.

    Funding is not an issue,(SSCA) have a network with institutional and ready to provide funding truthfully for any concrete actions and information leading to whereabouts General Athor Family.
    Here at Southern Sudan Crusader INC of America, (SSCA).We sincerely believe it’s our responsibility not SPLA, GOSS, UNMIS or UN only true ordinary citizens of Jonglei State who can bring the long lasting peace and stability to Jonglei State. Our dear brothers and sisters don’t let SSCA down, let make this a reality not a fantasy.

    P.S. I will post the address and telephone sometime by Saturday, March 12, 2011. God Bless all of you and innocent victims of General Athor Deng. Pass on the message humbly and seriously to the rests of our fellow Comrades, brothers and Sisters.
    Sincerely,
    Secretary of Southern Sudan Crusader Inc of America (SSCA)

    Reply
  • AAMA
    AAMA

    Egypt presidential hopeful declines meeting with Sudan’s Bashir: report
    Bashir was happy to see Mubarak go despite the relatively good relations they had in the last few years (it wasn’t genuine relationship anyways from both of them). However, and unless the Muslim brothers come to power in Egypt (and even then maybe because they resemble El Turabi side more than Bashir side), Bashir shouldn’t expect high Egyptian co operation with him. Basically, the Egyptians toppled a dictator and they can never endorse or favor another one with a reputation like Bashir even if it’s Sudan with all its importance to Egypt.

    Bashir should look up (and not down) to his people for support and not Egypt, USA or any country (no body can lift him up or knock him down but his people). So, unless he takes into consideration the needs and aspirations of his people and stops killing and torturing them and also quit being occupied by saving his seat and start acting as a responsible statesman, he will experience rejection everywhere he goes, and he will be living in the fear of an uprisings or a coup until he is toppled in not more than 2 to 3 years as a max.

    Peace.

    Reply
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