November 8, 2009 (WASHINGTON) – The Sudanese 2nd Vice president Ali Osman Taha warned his boss Omer Hassan Al-Bashir not to travel to Turkey to attend the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Istanbul, according to a news report.
The BBC Arabic service quoting Sudanese sources in Istanbul said that Bashir listened to Taha’s advice telling him that Israeli and Greek fighter jets may intercept his plane en route to Turkey. They pointed out that Greece has made a pledge to the EU to arrest Bashir.
The report said that Sudanese presidential jet landed in Istanbul without Bashir on board.
Bashir was due to arrive in Turkey on Sunday afternoon according to Sudanese media. Sources in Khartoum told Sudan Tribune that the government “is trying to keep it [Bashir’s visit] quiet” in case Turkey comes under pressure to backtrack on the invitation causing a last minute cancellation and an “embarrassment”.
Turkish officials confirmed that Bashir will not attend earlier today without giving details.
Sudan official news agency (SUNA) said that Bashir “delayed” his visit to Turkey in light of the ongoing dispute with SPLM over crucial parts of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
The Sudanese head of state’s anticipated arrival in Turkey has generated controversy and criticisms from human rights groups and the European Union (EU) which privately urged the NATO member to consider the invitation it extended.
Turkey rebuffed the objections saying it is only a host of the OIC conference while saying that a bilateral visit by Bashir, who faces an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his alleged role in Darfur atrocities, in the future “is out of question”.
International Crisis Group analyst Fouad Hikmat said the decision showed how much the ICC warrant had hindered Bashir’s movements.
“I don’t think he’ll be able to venture out beyond the immediate neighbourhood, or maybe the Gulf. His people don’t want to take any risks. Once he’s in international airspace, he is in no man’s land,” he told Reuters.
(ST)
حركة العدل و المساواة السودانية
موقع متخصص بنقل آخر الأخبار و البيانات و القرارات لحركة العدل و المساواة السودانية