ICC-02/05-01/09-246-Anx1 12-08-2015 1/7 NM PT ANNEX 1 PUBLIC
ICC-02/05-01/09-246-Anx1 12-08-2015 2/7 NM PT Media reports on travels of Mr Omar Al-Bashir to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt 1- Travel to Saudi Arabia 20-23 May 2015 Sudan Tribune: Sudanese president heads to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday: news agency May 19, 2015 (KHARTOUM) The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-bashir will travel to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for the second time in less than two months, according to a news report. Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-bashir (L) walking with Saudi Arabia s King Salman Bin Abdel Aziz in Riyadh on 25 March 2015 (SPA) Saudi Arabia state news agency (SPA) which carried the report said that Bashir will arrive in Riyadh for talks with King Salman Bin Abdelaziz on bilateral relations along with regional and international issues of mutual concern. Sudan state media made no mention of the visit. The relations between two countries appear to have warmed up after years of tense relations. Hours after Bashir s visit to Riyadh last March, it was announced that Sudan has joined the Saudi-led military operations against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Khartoum s close ties with Tehran was the main cause of cool relations with Riyadh. Last year, Sudan closed Iranian cultural centers in the country which was seen as a gesture of goodwill towards Arab Gulf states. Sudanese officials have expressed strong hope that Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf states would generously reward Khartoum for shifting alliances away from Iran. But a Gulf diplomat speaking to Reuters last month downplayed these hopes. "There is no trust in the Gulf for Omer al-bashir...the leaders in the Gulf think that Bashir can betray them at any time, so they won t give him aid until he shows he is serious about joining them and leaving Iran," the diplomat said.in April, the Saudi ambassador in Sudan denied local media reports that his country provided any cash assistance to Khartoum. Turkish Weekly Sudan's al-bashir arrives in Riyadh 21 May 2015 Sudanese President Omar al-bashir on Wednesday arrived in Saudi capital Riyadh for an unannounced visit to the oil-rich Gulf kingdom. It is al-bashir's second visit to Saudi Arabia within two months. Riyadh Emir Sheikh Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz received the Sudanese president at the airport, according to Saudi's official news agency. The agency did not, however, provide details on al-bashir's visit, his first since winning Sudan's April presidential election. Al-Bashir last visited Saudi Arabia on March 25, during which he held talks with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
ICC-02/05-01/09-246-Anx1 12-08-2015 3/7 NM PT 2 Travel to Saudi Arabia 11-15 July 2015 Sudan news agency President of the Republic performs Umrah Makkah, 13 July(SUNA)-President of the Republic, Field Marshal Omer Al-Bashir performed on Monday Umrah pilgrimage within framework of his current visit to the Saudi Arabia. He was received at the Holy Mosque by top officials of the Holy Mosque the Prophet's Mosque. ASA/ Available at : http://suna-sd.net/new/suna/shownews/254552/en Sudan Tribune 14 July 2015 Sudanese president holds talks with the Saudi King July 14, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - he Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-bashir on Tuesday has discussed with the Saudi King, Salman bin Abdel-Aziz Al Saud, prospects of cooperation between the two countries besides regional and international the developments. Bashir arrived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday to perform the lesser pilgrimage, Umrah. According to the Saudi official news agency SPA the meeting was attended by Sudan s minister of presidential affairs Salah Al-Din Wanasi, foreign minister, Ibrahim Ghandour and minister of state and director of the president s office,taha Osman al-hussein. The meeting was also attended by the Saudi crown prince Mohamed bin Naif bin Abdel-Aziz, deputy premier and minister of interior; deputy crown prince Mohamed bin Salman bin Abdel-Aziz, second deputy premier and minister of defence. Also the Saudi minister of state and member of the cabinet Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban attended the meeting besides the minister of state and member of the cabinet Essam bin Saad bin Saeed, minister of culture and information Adel bin Zaid Al-Toraifi; and minister of foreign affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir. After years of strained relations, the two countries recently improved their ties when Khartoum accepted to join a Saudi Arabia-led military campaign against rebels in Yemen at the expense of its relation with Iran.
ICC-02/05-01/09-246-Anx1 12-08-2015 4/7 NM PT The Sudanese leader also paid a visit to Saudi Arabia last May in which he met with King Salman and other senior officials. He also held talks with Yemeni president Abd-Rabbuh Mansur Hadi who has resided in Riyadh shortly before the military campaign started in March. Sudanese officials have expressed strong hope that Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf states would generously reward Khartoum for shifting alliances away from Iran. But a Gulf diplomat speaking to Reuters last April downplayed these hopes. "There is no trust in the Gulf for Omer al-bashir...the leaders in the Gulf think that Bashir can betray them at any time, so they won t give him aid until he shows he is serious about joining them and leaving Iran," the diplomat said. In April, the Saudi ambassador in Sudan denied local media reports that his country provided any cash assistance to Khartoum. (ST) Available at: http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article55704 All Africa 16 July 2015 Sudan: President Al-Bashir Returns Home After Visit to Saudi Arabia Khartoum President of the Republic, Field Marshal Omer Al-Bashir, returned home early Thursday from Saudi Arabia after a five-day visit. He was received upon return by the First Vice - President of the Republic, Lt. Gen. Bakri Hassan Salih, and a number of ministers and senior officials. During his visit to Saudi Arabia, President Al-Bashir has performed Ummrah and expressed condolence to the Saudi leadership on death of the former Saudi Foreign Minister, Saud Al-Faisal. He also held talks with the Saudi officials during the visit. Available at: http://allafrica.com/stories/201507170732.html 3- - Travel to Qatar - 24 May 2015 Sudan Tribune Sudan s Bashir concludes a lightning visit to Qatar May 24, 2015 (KHARTOUM) The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-bashir concluded a short visit to Qatar on Sunday, a day after he returned from Saudi Arabia for talks with officials there. Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-bashir (L) meeting with Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-thani in Doha May 24, 2015 (QNA) Bashir arrived in Doha this morning accompanied by his defence minister Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein, the minister of foreign affairs Ali Karti besides several other senior officials.
ICC-02/05-01/09-246-Anx1 12-08-2015 5/7 NM PT Qatar news agency (QNA) said that Bashir discussed with the Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-thani regional and international issues of common concern particularly the recent developments in the area. According to information obtained by Sudan Tribune, Bashir s trips to Riyadh and Doha were prompted by the recent developments in the Arab world particularly the crisis in Yemen and Syria beside the situation in Egypt following the death sentences handed down against the ousted president Mohamed Morsi and his aides from the Muslim Brotherhood. Well placed sources said that talks between Bashir and Saudi King Salman Bib Abdel-Aziz were likely dominated by the political and military developments in Yemen, noting that Sudan enjoys reasonable acceptance by the Yemeni popular resistance groups which are fighting the Houthi rebels believed to be backed by Iran.. It added that the two leaders might have also discussed participation of special Sudanese forces in securing areas inside Yemen and training resistance groups. The same sources further noted that Bashir s talks in Riyadh tackled developments in Syria, pointing that Sudan is qualified to play a pivotal role to achieve political settlement in Syria due to its ties with Bashar al-assad s regime. Ties between Khartoum and Riyadh appear to have warmed up after years of tense relations. Hours after Bashir s visit to Riyadh last March, it was announced that Sudan has joined the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen. Khartoum s close ties with Tehran were the main cause of cool relations with Riyadh. Last year, Sudan closed Iranian cultural centres in the country which was seen as a gesture of goodwill towards Arab Gulf states. Karti said in press statements at Khartoum airport upon return form Doha that the visit came to satisfy an invitation extended to Bashir by the Qatari Emir during their meeting on the sidelines of Egypt s economic development conference held in Sharm El-Sheikh last March. He disclosed that Bashir filled in Tamim on Sudan s internal situation particularly the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) signed in Doha besides relations with South Sudan. The foreign minister added that Bashir also briefed the Emir on his presidential program for the new term, stressing that the two sides agreed on the program. According to Sudan s top diplomat, Bashir expressed appreciation to Qatar s government and peoples for their continued efforts to peace in Sudan, saying that DDPD met the entire demands of the people of Darfur. Bashir also praised the role of Qatari investments in supporting Sudanese economy, saying it helped the country overcome economic shock caused by the secession of South Sudan which took with it 75% of the oil reserves. The Sudanese president said the country would witness a new era of peace and stability, emphasizing that his government program until 2016 focuses on bringing rebellion and tribal conflicts to an end. He added that the government also seeks to strengthen Sudan s foreign relations with friendly countries in the region and in the international arena, saying that Sudan welcomes Qatari investments to achieve Arab food security. Bashir further said that his government offered more than 2 million acres suitable for farming besides providing investment opportunities in natural gas and electricity production to support agricultural investments. He called for upgrading economic cooperation to economic integration in order to achieve interests of the two peoples. The Qatari Emir for his part thanked Bashir for his visit, expressing satisfaction with the convergence of views on current Arab, regional and international issues. He described his country s support to Sudan as a duty dictated by the fraternal ties between the two nations, stressing readiness to promote relations for the benefit of the two peoples. Tamim announced Qatar s agreement to launch additional investment projects in Sudan, expressing hope that Sudan achieves further stability, progress and prosperity. Karti expected that the two countries would continue communication during the coming period through mutual visits of technical teams and officials to implement the agreements reached between the two sides. (ST) Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) DOHA, May 24 (KUNA) -- Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and visiting Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir held talks here on Sunday on bilateral relations and ways to boost them in various fields. The meeting dealt with a number of mutual issues as well as regional and international issues and the latest developments in the region, said the Qatar News Agency (QNA). The meeting was attended by Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani and members of the delegation accompanying President Al-Bashir. (end) nnd.hs Gulf Times 25 May 2015 HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-thani and the visiting President of Sudan, Omar Hassan al-bashir, held talks in Doha yesterday. They discussed relations between Qatar and Sudan and means of enhancing them
ICC-02/05-01/09-246-Anx1 12-08-2015 6/7 NM PT in various fields. Talks during the meeting, held at the Emiri Diwan, also dealt with regional and international issues, particularly the latest developments in the region. The meeting was attended by HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-thani and the members of the delegation accompanying President Bashir. Following the talks, the Emir hosted a luncheon banquet in honour of the Sudanese president and the accompanying delegation. President Bashir left Doha yesterday afternoon after a short visit to Qatar. The Sudanese president and the accompanying delegation were seen off at Hamad International Airport by HE the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Dr Hamad bin Abdul Aziz al-kuwari, Qatar s ambassador to Khartoum, Rashid Abdul Rahman al-naimi and Sudan s ambassador to Qatar Yasser Khadr Khalaf Allah. 3- Travel to Eypt 10-11 June 2015 AFP 10 June 2015 2:53 PM Africa leaders sign 'Cape to Cairo' free trade bloc deal Sharm el Sheikh (Egypt) (AFP) - African leaders signed Wednesday a 26-nation free trade pact to create a common market that would span half the continent from Cairo to Cape Town. The Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) deal, which must still be fine-tuned and ratified, caps five years of talks to set up a framework for preferential tariffs to ease the movement of goods in an area home to 625 million people. Analysts say it could have an enormous impact on African economies, which account for only about two percent of global trade despite strong growth. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-sisi, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and President Omar al-bashir of Sudan were among those who signed the pact at a summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-sheikh. But hurdles remain, with the timeline for bringing down trade barriers yet to be worked out and the deal needing ratification in national parliaments within two years. "What we are doing today represents a very important step in the history of the regional integration of Africa," Sisi said as he opened the summit. "We have told the word today... of our desire to adopt practices that are necessary to increase trade among ourselves... We will do whatever is possible to activate this agreement," he later said, wrapping up the summit. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said that with the launch of the TFTA "Africa has made it clear that it is open for business." - Bolster intra-regional trade - The deal will integrate three existing trade blocs -- the East African Community, the Southern African Development Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) -- whose countries have a combined gross domestic product of more than $1 trillion (885 billion euros). "The geographical area covers the Cape (of Good Hope) to Cairo... The agreement paves the way for a continental free trade area that will combine the three biggest regional communities," Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said. And Mugabe said the deal would create a "borderless economy" that would rank 13th in the world in terms of GDP. Members of the three blocs range from relatively developed economies such as South Africa and Egypt to countries like Angola, Ethiopia and Mozambique, which are seen as having huge growth potential. "The establishment of TFTA will bolster intra-regional trade by creating a wider market" that would "increase investment flow... and enhance regional infrastructure development," a final statement said. Negotiators were optimistic the deal would be ratified by parliaments, and would help not just developed economies but also smaller ones. "On the ground it means jobs being created... or else there could be an Africa spring far worse than the Arab Spring," COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya, who led the negotiations among the three blocs, told AFP. Negotiators drafted the deal this week in Sharm el-sheikh, and said it addresses such concerns as management of trade disputes and protection for small manufacturers once the TFTA comes into force. The TFTA has been widely welcomed by world business leaders, with experts pointing out that only 12 percent of Africa's trade is between countries on the continent. - 'One trade regime'- In 2013, the UN Conference on Trade and Development said Africa must focus on creating more space for the private sector to play an active role if it is to boost intra-continental trade. Analysts say although the continent's growth in the past 15 years outstripped global GDP expansion by nearly three percentage points, falling commodity prices, power shortages, political instability and corruption are still holding back its economies.
ICC-02/05-01/09-246-Anx1 12-08-2015 7/7 NM PT Egypt's Minister of Industry and Trade Mounir Fakhri Abdel Nour said the TFTA would help Africa boost trade and investment, while also building infrastructure and production capacities. Egypt itself expected to export about $5 billion worth of goods in the next five years to TFTA countries. Officials said companies would benefit from an improved and harmonised trade regime, which would reduce costs by eliminating overlapping trade rules. "What we have realised is that having one trade regime is better than the costly multiple trade regimes," said Ngwenya. "The ultimate goal is to expeditiously establish a single free trade area... then establish a single customs union and then merge" the three blocs, he said. Middle East Notrh Africa. Financial Network 11 June 2015 Africa leaders sign 'Cape to ' free trade bloc deal MENAFN - Gulf Times) African leaders signed Wednesday a 26-nation free trade pact to create a common market that would span half the continent from Cairo to Cape Town. The Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) deal, which must still be fine-tuned and ratified, caps five years of talks to set up a framework for preferential tariffs to ease the movement of goods in an area home to 625 million people. Analysts say it could have an enormous impact on African economies, which account for only about two percent of global trade despite strong growth. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-sisi, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and President Omar al-bashir of Sudan were among those who signed the pact at a summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-sheikh. But hurdles remain, with the timeline for bringing down trade barriers yet to be worked out and the deal needing ratification in national parliaments within two years. "What we are doing today represents a very important step in the history of the regional integration of Africa," Sisi said as he opened the summit. He wrapped up the meeting saying: "We have told the word today... of our desire to adopt practices that are necessary to increase trade among ourselves... We will do whatever is possible to activate this agreement." World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said the TFTA would allow Africa "to make tremendous progress and move the entire continent forward." "Africa has made it clear that it is open for business."