Antalya: On the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mohi-Eddin Salim, held a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Austria to discuss developments in Sudan, ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, and coordination on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
According to Sudan News Agency, during the meeting, the Minister reviewed significant improvements in the situation in Sudan, noting the gradual return of normal life in the capital, Khartoum, and the increasing return of citizens from neighboring countries. He also highlighted the government's full openness to humanitarian work, including facilitating aid delivery and ensuring the freedom of movement for humanitarian organizations and personnel.
He reaffirmed the government's commitment to achieving a lasting and comprehensive peace based on an integrated approach addressing the root causes of the crisis, stressing in this context the need to seriously address the issue of foreign fighters and mercenaries as one of the key obstacles to peace efforts, while underlining the responsibility of the international community to play a more effective role in this regard.
On the humanitarian front, the Austrian Foreign Minister reiterated her country's continued commitment to supporting Sudan, referring to financial contributions made by Austria to humanitarian response efforts in Sudan and the region, and expressing interest in gaining first-hand insight into the situation, along with Austria's readiness to further enhance its support.
The Austrian side also expressed readiness to host rounds of Sudanese dialogue in Vienna, including informal 'Track II' discussions, to help advance peace efforts. The Minister welcomed this proposal, affirming Sudan's openness to all constructive initiatives that respect its sovereignty and support a nationally driven solution.
Both sides agreed on the importance of activating bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the political consultation committee, and strengthening communication between government institutions and the private sector to serve mutual interests.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Minister renewed his invitation to the Austrian Foreign Minister to visit Sudan and observe the situation on the ground, stressing that the current phase presents a real opportunity to support recovery and reconstruction efforts.