South Sudanese warring parties to a peace agreement have failed to agree on how many states the country should have, going into the peace agreement an
South Sudanese warring parties to a peace agreement have failed to agree on how many states the country should have, going into the peace agreement and beyond, observers said Wednesday.
A two-day meeting held in Juba, overseen by the Deputy President of South Africa David Mabuza and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Special envoy to South Sudan Ismail Wais, ended in deadlock Wednesday.
The parties are now narrowing to only two options on the number of states, Mabuza told reporters.
“Where we are now we have nudged all the parties and we are only left with two views and these two views, we are going to escalate them,” he said.
He did not reveal what are the options.
“It took us sometimes and we thought we should not rush into a point where there is consensus but I can say, for the whole country to know, for people of South Sudan to know that we are almost on the verge of finding one another,” he said. “We are going to finalize the issue of the states and the boundaries in the next 10 days.”
Syria to pardon forcibly recruited YPG/PKK members
Syrian Interim Government President Abdurrahman Mustafa announced Wednesday that those who were deceived or forcibly participated in the YPG/PKK terror group would be forgiven unless they committed another crime. “We would like to open a new page for a brighter future with all Syrians’ component to establish peace and freedom in the region,” said Mustafa.He said forcibly recruited YPG/PKK members need to consult the nearest Syrian National Army point by abandoning their weapons as the first step for a brighter future.“Syrian National Army members are your brothers, trust them. There is still time to say goodbye to dark days,” he said. “Syrian National Army is determined to fight against terrorism until eradication of terror.”Ras al-Ayn was liberated from YPG/PKK terrorists Oct. 12 as part of Operation Peace Spring.Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate YPG/PKK terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.Under two separate deals with the U.S. and Russia, Turkey paused the operation to allow the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the planned Syria safe zone.Prior to this, Turkey led two successful operations, Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield, in northern Syria to rid the region of terrorists.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and EU — has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the PKK’s Syrian offshoot.
Thailand-Turkey trade volume ‘much below the potential’
Trade between Turkey and Thailand is much below its potential, Thai envoy to Ankara said Wednesday as she highlighted progress on finalizing a free trade agreement between the two nations.Speaking to Anadolu Agency ahead of Thai National Day in Ankara on Thursday, Ambassador Phantipha Iamsudha Ekarohit said her “key mission” is to find the way of boosting trade relations and investment.“We have had long relations with Turkey, but the economic cooperation has not been very intense,” she said, adding that $1.4 billion current trade volume is “still very small” compared to the economic potential of the two countries.Trade volume and investment are “much below the potential,” she noted, highlighting the strategic location of Turkey and Thailand, the sizes of populations, economies and markets.Boosting economic relations is the main focus of Ekarohit, who was appointed ambassador in July 2018.She outlined two major obstacles behind the poor trade figures as the business sector of the two sides do not know each other very well and legal difficulties.“We have opportunities for reciprocal investment; from Turkey to Thailand and from Thailand to Turkey.”So, we have to make private sectors of the two countries get to know each other more,” she noted.Ankara and Bangkok have been in an intense negotiation to ink a free trade deal since July 2017, as both parties met in Bangkok earlier this week for the sixth time of the FTA discussion.Ekarohit said the agreement could be finalized by 2020, though she refused to disclose further details about the negotiations.“We believe that if we can finalize the FTA, it will be able to increase our trade by 40%.“In the future, it could be even more. But right now, we still need some mechanism to help boost trade. And business people have to make more acquaintances to get to know each other more.”She noted that both countries have some similarities and some differences “that can make us complement each other.” Ekarohit said Dec. 5 is one of the most significant days for Thai people as it is the National Day, the birth anniversary of the late King, and Thailand’s Father’s Day.The theme of this year’s Ankara event is “Thai Food, Thai Fruits and Thai Silk Fashion Show,” with which the embassy aims to present exotic Thai fruits as well as to organize a special Thai silk fashion show in collaboration with Turkish fashion designer Ahmet Ozceyhan.
According to opposition leader Lam Akol Ajawin, the meeting was looking for a win-win situation after the parties failed to compromise on the number of states.
“What is important now is that there is a proposal to arrive at some figure between 10 and 32 states,” Ajawin told reporters.
The Minister of Cabinet Affairs Dr. Martin Elia urged parties to the peace agreement to end the “political game” on the number and boundaries of states.
The number and boundaries of states were among the tasks to be completed within the pre-transitional period.
President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar recently extended for the second time the pre-transitional period by 100 days to allow for the completion of the remaining tasks.
The parties failed to implement the security arrangement such as cantonment of forces, screening, reunification, deployment and the agreement on the number of states and boundaries during the first transitional period that ended in May.
Macron says European leaders to meet again with Erdoğan
French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday French, British and German leaders will meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan again early next year to discuss Syria, Libya and other issues.“I’m very happy that we had a very useful meeting yesterday with British Prime Minister, Chancellor [Angela] Merkel and President Erdoğan,” Macron told a news conference after the NATO leaders’ summit in London.The meeting, which helped clarify various issues, also “allowed us … to reaffirm our priority in fighting [Daesh/ISIS], and our common commitment to the refugee issue and a political solution to the Syrian conflict,” the French leader said, in remarks translated into English.Trump says Turkey doing a ‘good job’ in northern SyriaTurkey urged to lead fight against all discriminationErdoğan on Tuesday met Macron and Merkel, alongside host Johnson at the residence of the prime minister at 10 Downing Street.The leaders discussed latest developments in Syria and exchanged views on Turkey’s operation targeting YPG/PKK terrorist in northern Syria.The meeting “started a very useful dialogue and clarified certain misunderstandings with Turkey,” Macron said.However, the French leader reiterated his opposition to classifying PKK terrorist Syrian offshoot YPG as a terror group.“We’re combatting the PKK and those groups that are fighting against Turkey directly. But we’re not equating these different political and military groups to each other. So, we disagree on this. And that has not been changed,” said Macron.PKK terrorism a ‘real threat’ to Turkey, says UK PMNATO reiterates commitment to fight against terrorismHowever, he added: “When … certain groups do have terrorist intentions on Turkish soil against the Turkish country, [for us] there’s no ambiguity about the fact that we will fight against those groups,” he added.Turkey on Oct. 9 launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate YPG/PKK terrorists from northern Syria east of the Euphrates River in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees, and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.Under two separate deals with the U.S. and Russia, Turkey paused the operation to allow the withdrawal of YPG/PKK terrorists from the planned Syria safe zone.Ankara wants YPG/PKK terrorists to withdraw from the region so a safe zone can be created to pave the way for the safe return of some 2 million refugees.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK — listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union — has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.US senator slams Macron on Daesh fighters commentsErdoğan condemns associating Islam with terrorism‘Turkey’s borders are NATO’s borders’
Four killed in fresh landslides in eastern Uganda
At least four people were killed in eastern Uganda after fresh landslides hit Bududa district, a local official confirmed on Wednesday.On Tuesday, the heavy rains caused fresh floods sweeping more than 20 houses and several crop gardens.Willson Watila, Bududa local council chairman, said that four bodies have been recovered in Busika sub-county.Currently, Uganda Red Cross has been engaged in search and rescue efforts for the victims.Uganda police also joined the efforts, but accessibility to the areas affected by the landslide is still difficult due to blocked roads.Robert Tukei, police spokesman of Elgon region, told Anadolu Agency that police could not yet determine the exact number of people killed or missing, while many are feared dead.Godfrey Watenga Nabutanyi, a parliament member for Lutseshe constituency, said rains washed away several bridges, paralyzing movement in the district.The landslides harshly hit the bridges connecting Bubiita and Buwali sub-counties, Bulucheke and Bushiyi sub-counties across River Manafa, as well as Buwali and Kwushu town council.Bududa is located in the foothills of Mt. Elgon, which lies on the border between Uganda and Kenya, and is prone to landslides.In 2018, at least 51 people died when landslides hit Bukalasi and Buwali sub-counties in Bududa. More than 850 people were displaced.