Thursday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to talk about how the situation in Sudan is getting worse. During the talk, Jaishankar also stressed the need for “successful diplomacy,” which can lead to a quick end to the fighting and improve the situation on the ground for people’s safety and well-being.
Aside from the violence in Sudan, the two leaders also talked about India’s presidency of the G20 and the war in Ukraine.
“It was nice to meet UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres this afternoon in New York. “We talked about what’s going on in Sudan, the G20 Presidency, and Ukraine,” he wrote on Twitter.
“The focus was, of course, on Sudan. India strongly backs attempts to bring about a quick end to the fighting and make safe passageways. Will keep working closely with the United Nations and other partners on this,” he said.
Good to meet UN Secretary General @antonioguterres in New York today afternoon.
Discussed the current developments in Sudan, G20 Presidency and Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/6ZRANljEtg
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 20, 2023
EAM JAISHANKAR’s FIRST VISIT TO LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES
On Friday, Jaishankar will leave for a nine-day trip to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. This will be his first trip to these Latin American and Caribbean countries as the minister of foreign affairs.
Before going to South and Central America, he went to New York.
Even though his trip to South America had been planned for a long time, he said, “I mostly came here to the UN because as soon as the fighting started in Sudan on April 14, it was clear that this was a very serious situation and that a lot of people were trapped by it.”
“We knew that the UN has a lot of people there. The center will be here. Because right now, what is needed is good diplomacy, because only diplomacy can change the situation on the ground for the safety and well-being of the people there, Jaishankar told reporters after his talk with Guterres at the United Nations.
Jaishankar said that he had a “very good meeting” with Guterres and that when fighting started in Sudan, “I felt it was very important” that he meet with the UN Secretary-General.
“We talked mostly about what was going on in Sudan. We also talked about the G20 and spent some time talking about the war in Ukraine. “But at heart, it was about the situation in Sudan,” he said.
Jaishankar said that the UN is “at the center of the efforts” to stop the fighting in Sudan.
“And that is really important because right now, people can’t come out safely unless there is a ceasefire and there are corridors,” he said.
“The UN is doing its part by communicating with everyone. We obviously care a lot about this because there are so many Indians there,” Jaishankar said.
VIDEO | “In Sudan, the UN is making all efforts to establish a ceasefire. Unless there is a ceasefire, it’s not safe for people to come out. Our team is in continuous touch with Indians in Sudan,” says EAM S Jaishankar after meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. pic.twitter.com/qYJQb10K9p
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 21, 2023
INDIAN KILLED IN SUDAN VIOLENCE
The World Health Organization says that fighting in Sudan has killed about 300 people, including an Indian, and hurt more than 3000.
On Saturday, fighting broke out between the army troops of Sudan and the paramilitary Rapid Support troops (RSF).
Jaishankar said that New Delhi is in touch with a number of countries, and he has talked to the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Farhan, and the Foreign Minister of the UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“We have been in touch with the Americans, and I have also been in touch with my British counterpart,” he said. This morning, he had a “long conversation” with the Egyptian foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, about being Sudan’s neighbor and having a “strong interest and strong understanding.”
“So, the main question is how to get the political processes to work the way you want them to. The goal is to have a truce that works and is respected on the ground. “The next step is to figure out how to make corridors for movement, what kinds of movement are possible, and where people should meet,” Jaishankar said.
The team in New Delhi is also in “continuous touch” with the Indians in Sudan, telling them, “We know it’s hard for everyone, but stay calm and don’t put yourself in danger unless you have to.” He told them that they will have to wait for this to work itself out.
“I hope that all of the work, including what the Secretary-General is doing, will soon lead to something. But we’ll have to see what happens,” Jaishankar said.
