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Re: من نارو:هولندا تدعو لاعادة النظرفى العلاقات مع الدول التى تسمح للبشير بالسفر وتطلب القبض عل (Re: عمار عوض)
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Quote: March 30th, 2011 at 12:29 pm The Jasmin revolt doesn’t seem to have a great impact in Sudan, but there are reports of demonstrations that were brutally dispersed and even women that have been raped” Minister for International Cooperation Ben Knapen explains to the members of the Foreign Relations committee.
by Ruben Koops, Radio Netherland
On Wednesday, the Dutch government briefed parliament on all the different aspects of the relationship that the Netherlands has with Sudan. Despite the enormous amounts of money that have been spent in both Khartoum and Juba, Knapen is honest about the difficulties that he sees.
Relationship
Knapen has been called to parliament to talk about two things. First, as an aide to the Minister of Defence, who seeks parliamentary approval for continuing the Dutch effort in UNMIS, the United Nations Mission in Sudan. But secondly, Knapen faces tough questions regarding donor money spend in Sudan. For 2011, about 66 million euro’s is earmarked for in Sudan, a substantial amount compared with the other recipient nations.
Sudan and the Netherlands are very well connected. A special relationship has somehow been established between the largest country in Africa and one of the smallest in Europe. “In 2005, it was Agnes van Ardenne, the previous minister, that really intensified our focus on Sudan” says coalition MP Kathleen Ferrier. “She was personally involved in establishing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the truce that brought relative peace between Khartoum and Juba. If we don’t continue focusing on Sudan, it might turn into the Yugoslavia of Africa.”
Parliament
Ferrier was also present at a meeting with Sudanese colleagues who visited The Hague last week. A delegation of Sudanese parliamentarians from Khartoum were hoping to establish stronger ties with the Netherlands. Sudanese MP Mahdi Ibrahim Mohammed told Radio Netherlands Worldwide that the conversations were fruitful, and that the relationship between the two countries should be taken to the next level. But Ferrier doesn’t want to go that far. “I addressed the concerns I have, for example about the security of women in Darfur. This remains an issue.” Ferrier regards the visit as “keeping in touch with international colleagues”, but certainly not as rapprochement with Khartoum.
The current Sudanese parliament contains only northern Sudanese members; the membership of all the southern delegates was terminated in February, following the official adoption of the referendum results by the Sudanese parliament in Khartoum. It was a move that angered the South.
ICC
During the Sudan briefing, several Dutch MPs demanded that the Dutch government take a tougher stand on countries that allow Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir to travel freely through the region. Coalition MP Klaas Dijkhoff even suggested that the Netherlands should reconsider its donor relationship with countries that “receive and fête president al-Bashir.” Omar al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on suspicion of war crimes, and should be arrested by any country that endorses the ICC. But recently al-Bashir has travelled to several African and Middle-Eastern countries, without being handed over. Dijkhoff: “Allthough we are happy with his positive stand on the separation process, obviously we want to see him locked up in The Hague as soon as possible.”
UNMIS On Wednesday, the Dutch parliament expressed support for continuing the Dutch contribution to the UN mission in Sudan (UNMIS). Approximately 30 Dutch military personnel and police officers are deployed in Sudan, monitoring implementation of the CPA. Their mandate has been prolonged until 13 October 2011. Also, two military officers have been made available to serve the UN mission in Darfur (UNAMID), but they have not yet received valid visas to serve there.
MP Klaas Dijkhoff: “This is the main reason for our focus on Sudan, our men and women are serving there and we need to be informed on the risks they are taking by working in Sudan.”
Speaker El-Tahir The Speaker of the Sudanese parliament is not considering a run for the Sudanese presidency. Ahmed Ibrahim El-Tahir confirmed this to Radio Netherlands Woldwide in the margins of his visit to the Netherlands. “I am no candidate. I am retiring and going back to my office, which has been closed for a long time now. I am a lawyer, a profession I like very much!” El-Tahir is a prominent member of the National Congress Party, and was elected speaker in May 2010. Current president Omar al-Bashir has announced that he will not seek reelection after this term, throwing the 2015 presidential race wide open[/B].
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http://www.borglobe.com/11.html?m7%3Apost=it-s-complica...ationship-with-sudan
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