EU: considers imposing sanctions
Sudan Events – Follow-ups
“I met with Hamdouk but the time is not right for a political conflict”
Annette Weber, the European Union Envoy to the Horn of Africa, said Sudan remains a pivotal country to the European Union and that their efforts will not cease to end the war that has been raging in the country since mid-April, this year.
The European envoy indicated in an interview with the Asharq Al-Awsat, on Saturday, that she has sensed a different spirit in the recently resumed Jeddah negotiations, unlike what she saw during the first round, May. She commended the great role played by Saudi Arabia in the negotiations, stressing at the same time on the need to take into consideration the initiatives put forwards by IGAD and the African Union, given their vital role in the peace process in the Sudan.
She stressed that atrocities and human rights violations committed would not go “You can’t slaughter civilians and go unpunished, this is about the future, we can’t close the door but we have to say you can’t do these things without serious consequences.”
She said the EU is looking at stopping the entities and organizations that provide support and finance assistance in this war” she said, adding: “We can say if you start negotiations, we will not talk about sanctions,” calling on the Arab League, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the Americans and the European Union to put more pressure on both sides.
The European envoy praised the recent visits by the President of the Sovereign Council to neighboring states, saying, “We saw Burhan participating in the Arab Islamic Summit in Saudi Arabia, he used not to talk about the role of the neighbors, but now the matter is changing, you cannot live in a vacuum, they have neighbors. You have talk to your neighbors.”
The EU envoy who is visiting Riyadh, said she had met with Hamdouk and many civil forces, but said the time was not right for a political conflict.
We have to meet, start the next step, and get over the war for the transition period.
