ID :
189137
Fri, 06/17/2011 - 05:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/189137
The shortlink copeid
MINISTER IN FAVOUR OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT WITH SUDAN
Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said isolating Sudan, whose president is facing genocide charges from an international tribunal, may not necessarily be useful in terms of improving the situation in the strife-torn country.
Speaking ahead of the Langkawi International Dialogue (LID) 2011, he said it would be more fruitful to continue engaging Sudan.
"One of the objectives of the LID is to share Malaysia's experience in terms of good governance and best practices, for example, and we feel that we have something to offer to the rest of the LID participating countries," he told reporters here Thursday.
He said Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir would not attend the forum scheduled for June 19 to 21 in Putrajaya. The country will instead be represented by its foreign minister.
According to Anifah, he was aware of the possibility that the Sudanese leader may not be coming to Malaysia for the LID.
"We've extended invitations to all heads of state or government, and many of them are sending high-ranking representatives such as vice-presidents and ministers.
"Do you think that a man who has been issued a warrant of arrest will come to Malaysia?" he said.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant to the Sudanese government for Al-Bashir in July 2008 for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide for his role in the Darfur conflict.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz had said that the presence of Al-Bashir at LID could be an embarrassment for Malaysia.
Anifah offered a different perspective, saying that if the presence of the Sudanese president at LID could somehow improve the situation in troubled Sudan, than Malaysia would have done something useful.
The foreign minister said Malaysia was keen to maintain cordial ties with its African partners, with whom it had expanding trade and investment linkages.
He cited the involvement of Malaysian oil company Petronas in Sudan's petroleum sector as an example.
Speaking ahead of the Langkawi International Dialogue (LID) 2011, he said it would be more fruitful to continue engaging Sudan.
"One of the objectives of the LID is to share Malaysia's experience in terms of good governance and best practices, for example, and we feel that we have something to offer to the rest of the LID participating countries," he told reporters here Thursday.
He said Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir would not attend the forum scheduled for June 19 to 21 in Putrajaya. The country will instead be represented by its foreign minister.
According to Anifah, he was aware of the possibility that the Sudanese leader may not be coming to Malaysia for the LID.
"We've extended invitations to all heads of state or government, and many of them are sending high-ranking representatives such as vice-presidents and ministers.
"Do you think that a man who has been issued a warrant of arrest will come to Malaysia?" he said.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant to the Sudanese government for Al-Bashir in July 2008 for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide for his role in the Darfur conflict.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz had said that the presence of Al-Bashir at LID could be an embarrassment for Malaysia.
Anifah offered a different perspective, saying that if the presence of the Sudanese president at LID could somehow improve the situation in troubled Sudan, than Malaysia would have done something useful.
The foreign minister said Malaysia was keen to maintain cordial ties with its African partners, with whom it had expanding trade and investment linkages.
He cited the involvement of Malaysian oil company Petronas in Sudan's petroleum sector as an example.
