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August 29, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The Speaker of the National Assembly and his parliamentary delegation have got their visas for the United States to attend the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament from next Monday.

The Conference will be held from Monday 31 August to Wednesday, 2 September 2015 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. It is convened by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

A member of the Sudanese parliament from the ruling National Congress Party Mohamed al-Hassan al-Amin, on Friday complained that there was a delay in their visa, pointing that the U.S embassy in Khartoum told them that their application was under process in Washington.

However the head of external relations committee at the National Assembly Mohamed Mustafa al-Daw confirmed on Saturday that the eight members of the Sudanese delegation have obtained their visas denying reports that Washington declined to issue it.

Daw said the U.S. embassy in Khartoum attributed the delay in the visa issuance to the complicated procedures used by the American authorities. He said there is a positive change in the bilateral relations and ruled out that there was a political decision to deny them the visa.

The parliamentary official was alluding to the presence since last Tuesday of the U.S. special envoy Donald Booth in Khartoum where he is conducting discussions with the Sudanese officials on bilateral relations.

He said that the Sudanese Parliamentary delegation will leave for the United States on Saturday evening.

The delegation is headed by the speaker Ibrahim Ahmed Omer, and includes former speaker Ahmed Ibrahim al-Taher, deputy speaker of the State Council Ibrahim Habani, three other MPs and administrative staff members.

The world speakers conference will be will be opened by UN chief Ban Ki-moon and Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) president Saber Chowdhury.

The three-day conference is expected to adopt a draft declaration, titled "Placing democracy at the service of peace and sustainable development: Building the world the people want".

The conference will call to deploy greater efforts "in solving conflicts through political dialogue and negotiations, with full respect for international law"

SST)

August 29, 2015 (JUBA) - An alleged threat by the former governor of South Sudan's Warrap state, Nyandeng Malek against a local political commentator has drawn lots of criticisms from opponents and those opposed to the latter's leadership capabilities.

Ex-Warrap state governor Nyandeng Malek addresing SPLM members in Kwajok April 15, 2013 (ST)

Simon Yel Yel, currently a columnist with MordernGhana, an Accra-based website, told Sudan Tribune Malek threatened him through a phone call and demanded that he should prepare evidences of all corruption allegations labelled against her.

“She [Malek] called me on phone at 12:44 pm today and said be ready for me. I am normal citizen like you. I am no longer a governor. You will bring your papers to proof that corruption you claimed in investigations. You have been writing a lot of bad things about me in print and online media but this time I am no longer a governor and hence be ready for me. I was ignoring your article because I was a governor Nyandeng Malek," he said.

Yel said the former governor's action constituted a clear case of intimidation and threat to his life, stressing that she would be held responsible in case anything happen to him.

“To me, this is a threat because I don't know what she will do to me next. I don't apprehend what she really meant by saying be ready for me. This is act of intimidation".

The commentator said he didn't mean that Malek had stolen money in Warrap, but that his article was entirely about how local politicians in Warrap viewed the border state.

"I don't know why she is sensitive to hear corruption? I am ready if she wants to take me to court. My article was purely advice to caretaker governor of Warrap state and challenges ahead of him. If there is anything that happened to me then Nyandeng Malek will be responsible because being killed by unknown gunmen has become culture of smart killing in Juba now”, he said.

Yel, in a letter to the caretaker governor of Warrap, Akech Tong Aleu, claimed Malek had “arguably created a great gap of distrust between government, Warrap populations, state assembly and the SPLM party in the state. There is no link and trust between them at all".

"They see themselves as enemies and each work against the other”, he says in his letter.

“Mr. Governor, it is now your task to reunite the government with the SPLM party, state assembly and Warrap populations and build trust and teamwork among them once more”, it adds.

Yel further claimed many politicians in Warrap have totally misunderstood the meaning of Warrap and reasons why General Konggor Arop gave that name to the border state.

"Our local politicians have different version of Warrap state as they wrongly assume that Warrap state is War(pond or river) that is full of rap anyanjang(grain) where every constitutional post holder can fill his or her basket (gac) with rap anyanjang(grain) and goes away with it without being hold to account. They have got it totally wrong”, said Yel.

He also suggested, in his letter, that the present name of the border state be changed from Warrap to War alel in order to lessen rapid robbery of public funds because local politicians will not eat aleel(stones) again like the way they are eating rap now.

“Hon, don't bring us local politicians that see Warrap state as “ War rap” where they can fill their bellies and gaac (baskets) and go away without doing their constitutional obligations to the citizens. We need some things tangible to be done in Warrap in these three years”, emphasised Yel in his letter to the caretaker governor.

He said the former governor and her supporters simply misunderstood his writing to mean she corrupted the state government, leading to eventual failure to deliver services to the people thus contributing to her removal from the governorship, earlier this month.

(ST)

August 29, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Yemeni President Abd-Rabbuh Mansour Hadi began a two-day visit to Khartoum on Saturday for talks with his Sudanese counterpart Omer Hassan al-Bashir on the latest developments in Yemen and ways by which Khartoum can provide humanitarian assistance to the conflict-wrecked nation.

Yemen's President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi interacts with Sudan's President Omer Hassan al-Bashir (R) at Khartoum August 29, 2015 (REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah)

Bashir underscored his government's support for Yemen in all fields "so that it can overcome this critical stage…and in order to bring security and peace for Yemenis".

At a joint news conference following their talks, Bashir said that Hadi "assured us on the status legitimacy in Yemen and their control over many areas and their steady advances".

For his part, Hadi said that the Yemeni people will not accept the transfer of Iranian Shiite rule to Yemen.

"The Yemeni people patiently endured 50 years of failed governments and Houthis want to import the failed experience of Iran,” he said.

“I already informed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi [their leader] that this cannot happen in Yemen," Hadi said before stressing that that Houthis are supported by only 10% of the population.

The Yemeni president said that his forces are progressing to regain control over all Yemeni provinces and will not allow the country to end up like Iraq, Syria, and Libya.

He said that he came to Sudan to thanks its leadership on being a "supporter of the constitutional legitimacy in Yemen".

Sudan is a member of the Saudi-led military coalition dubbed as “Operation Firmness Storm” against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The operation which started last March aims to reinstate Hadi, who fled to Saudi Arabia, as president and flush rebels from main cities in Yemen.

After an apparent stalemate on the battlefield since the start of the military campaign, supporters of the Hadi managed to eject Houthi rebels from strategic city of Aden and four other southern provinces.

(ST)

August 29, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir will begin a visit to China on Monday to participate in celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and hold talks with officials there on economic cooperation.

Sudan's President Omer Hassan al-Bashir reviews the Chinese military honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China Wednesday, June 29, 2011. (AP)

A senior government source told Sudan Tribune that all preparations for Bashir's Beijing trip have been finalized.

Bashir was subject to an embarrassing situation in June 2011 when Turkmenistan and Tajikistan refused to give permission to Bashir's plane in order to reach China where he was set to start a state visit. As a result he was forced to return to Tehran where he was attending a summit there in order to decide on a new route to reach Beijing.

He eventually arrived a day later than scheduled and it remains unclear why his plane was blocked.

Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes committed in Darfur.

China is not an ICC member and has made it clear in the past that it does not approve of the warrant even though it chose not to veto the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 2005 resolution empowering the Hague-based court to investigate crimes in Sudan's western region.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a note sent via email that Bashir “should be in The Hague facing justice, not an honored guest anywhere”.

“China has made headlines recently for President Xi Jinping's initiative to compel the return of Chinese nationals abroad who are facing charges of corruption. Yet hosting a war crimes suspect doesn't seem to be problem,” HRW said.

“One of the lessons of World War II is that leaders can go to prison for their wartime atrocities. If China is going to disregard the warrants by inviting Bashir to its commemoration, perhaps he will at least be reminded of this”.

The Sudanese ambassador in Beijing Omar Issa said that a meeting for Sudanese businessmen will be held on September 2nd in the Chinese capital in conjunction with the president's visit which he said confirms the strong relations between the two countries.

Issa said in a statement carried by Sudan News Agency (SUNA) that a bilateral summit will take place between Bashir and Jinping. He added that Bashir will also hold a meeting with Sudanese Diaspora there.

It is expected that the Sudanese president will witness the signing of a number of MoU's and agreements between the two countries related to economic cooperation and investments.

China is the largest foreign investor in Sudan and used to be the biggest oil importer from there before South Sudan's secession in 2011.

Senior diplomatic sources told Sudan Tribune that Bashir will discuss with Chinese officials the possibility of settling Khartoum's $10 billion debt or change its terms given Sudan's difficult economic situation.

The Sudanese minister of Transport and Roads Makkawi Mohammed Ahmed disclosed that they signed a contract with a Chinese company to build a new 1000-kms railway line in eastern Sudan that would link the cities of Haya, Kassala, Gedaref, Sennar and Damazin adding that it will be operated electronically using optical fibers in the stations.

He further said that they will sign an agreement for the purchase of two A320 Airbus aircrafts through rent-to-buy arrangement that will be used by the beleaguered Sudan Airways.

Ahmed said they will also lease 3 MA-16 Chinese-made planes each with the capacity of 60 passengers.

Another framework agreement on the manufacture of ships used in maritime transport will be signed during the trip, he added.

(ST)

August 29, 2015 (JUBA) - The new governor of South Sudan's Warrap state has pledged to unite the ranks and files of the legislative and executive arms of the government, while underscoring the importance of cooperation between the various institutions in the state.

Map of South Sudan showing Warrap state in red

Akec Tong Aleu vowed not allow interference in the work of each institution.

The newly-appointed governor was speaking Friday at a reception rally held in the state capital, Kuacjok, upon returning from Juba to assume his new position.

Aleu was one the four state governors appointed by South Sudanese leader, Salva Kiir through a presidential decree early this month. He succeeded Nyandeng Malek.

“I will work hard to invite the assembly and the executive to work together. I will not encourage interference in the work. We should encourage the independence of our institutions and try to work together. If there is anything, we should try to resolve this outside instead of interfering with administrative processes and law”, the new caretaker governor told a joint session of the state cabinet and parliament in the border state.

Aleu said he would not pursue personal interest, but instead deliver service to the people.

Meanwhile, Ariech Mayar Ariech, the deputy chairperson of parliamentary committee for information and public relations told Sudan Tribune on Saturday that the newly-appointed governor was welcomed by a huge crowd on arrival in Kuacjok town.

He said various community leaders and high profile politicians gave speeches calling for unity and reconciliation as many urge Aleu to put the interest of the people above individual ambitions in order to be able to deliver basic services to the people in the area.

“The governor was received by a huge crowd. There was a long line of vehicles from the state secretariat to the airport. There were a lot of vehicles. We counted 250 vehicles full of people”, said Ariech, a renowned critic of former governor Malek.

Many in the state say they expect Ariech and other opponents of the former governor to be confidants and key political allies of her successor in parliament and executive organ.

(ST)

It looks like the F-22s may move to Poland. Soon.

According to the Polish Media outlet Głos Wielkopolski, the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor fighters belonging to the 95th Fighter Squadron, from Tyndall Air Force Base, that arrived at Spangdahlem airbase on Aug. 28, will be deployed to Poland next Monday Aug. 31.

The U.S. jets are going to be involved in joint training with the Polish F-16 fighters and information published by Głos Wielkopolski suggests that the Raptors are going to be stationed at the Polish 32 AB in Łask (a news confirmed by the base spokesman according to Scramble).

The arrival of the four F-22s marks the beginning of the inaugural Rapid Raptor package deployment in Europe: the type has often taken part in rotational deployments in the Asia-Pacific region since 2009, to show the presence of Washington’s 5th generation stealth jet around the disputed islands in the South China Sea, while some are also taking parting in the air war against ISIS.

Some analysts speculate the Raptors were not deployed in Europe earlier because of the risk of close encounters with Russian ELINT jets above the Baltics and the resulting disclosure of some sensitive information pertaining the Raptor, a risk the stealth jet face all around the world, actually.

Image credit: U.S. Air Force

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A Felhívás indokoltsága és célja Jelen Felhívás indításának indokoltsága a hazai kutatási infrastruktúra nemzetközi versenyképességének erősítése, a nemzetközileg versenyképes tudás-centrumok létrejöttének támogatása, segítve ezzel a sikeres nemzetközi kutatási együttműködések kialakítását, elmélyítését.

A Felhívás indokoltsága és célja A Gazdaságfejlesztési és Innovációs Operatív Program (továbbiakban GINOP) célul tűzte ki a vállalati K+F+I tevékenység intenzitásának ösztönzését, a kutatás-fejlesztési és innovációs aktivitás növelését a tudás intenzív és innovatív vállalkozások körében.

A Felhívás indokoltsága és célja Magyarországon a hazai és nemzetközi iparjogvédelmi bejelentések száma nemzetközi vonatkozásban alacsony. A vállalati K+F kiadások aránya a GDP-hez képest még a fejlettebb régiókban is alacsony, ennek egyik oka az alacsony vállalati K+F+I aktivitás. A beavatkozás előmozdítja a szellemitulajdonvédelem eszköztárának tudatos, versenyképességet fokozó, minél szélesebb körű alkalmazását, így biztosítva a hazai vállalkozások és kutatóintézetek piaci érvényesülését és K+F+I tevékenységre fordított forrásainak megtérülését.

A pályázat célja A Bursa Hungarica Felsőoktatási Önkormányzati Ösztöndíjrendszer (a továbbiakban: Bursa Hungarica Ösztöndíjrendszer) célja az esélyteremtés érdekében a hátrányos helyzetű, szociálisan rászoruló fiatalok felsőoktatásban való részvételének támogatása. A Bursa Hungarica Ösztöndíjrendszer többszintű támogatási rendszer, amelynek pénzügyi fedezeteként három forrás szolgál: a települési önkormányzatok által nyújtott támogatás; a megyei önkormányzatok által nyújtott támogatás és a felsőoktatási intézményi támogatás. Az ösztöndíjpályázattal kapcsolatos adatbázis-kezelői, koordinációs, a települési és megyei ösztöndíjjal kapcsolatos pénzkezelési feladatait az Emberi Erőforrás Támogatáskezelő (továbbiakban: Támogatáskezelő) végzi, míg az elbírálási feladatokat az ösztöndíjpályázathoz csatlakozó települési és megyei önkormányzatok látják el.

A pályázat célja A Bursa Hungarica Felsőoktatási Önkormányzati Ösztöndíjrendszer (a továbbiakban: Bursa Hungarica Ösztöndíjrendszer) célja az esélyteremtés érdekében a hátrányos helyzetű, szociálisan rászoruló fiatalok felsőoktatásban való részvételének támogatása. A Bursa Hungarica Ösztöndíjrendszer többszintű támogatási rendszer, amelynek pénzügyi fedezeteként három forrás szolgál: a települési önkormányzatok által nyújtott támogatás, a megyei önkormányzatok által nyújtott támogatás és a felsőoktatási intézményi támogatás. Az ösztöndíjpályázattal kapcsolatos adatbázis-kezelői, koordinációs, a települési és megyei ösztöndíj pénzkezelési feladatait az Emberi Erőforrás Támogatáskezelő (a továbbiakban: Támogatáskezelő) végzi, míg az elbírálási feladatokat az ösztöndíjpályázathoz csatlakozó települési és megyei önkormányzatok látják el.

Pályázatot hirdet az Európai Unió és az Europa Nostra az Európai Unió Kulturális Öröksége Díjak / Europa Nostra Díjak odaítélésére.

August 29, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM)'s secretary-general Yasir Arman said that the Sudanese government will not accept to implement the decision of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) in favour of peace and democratic reforms without more internal and external pressures.

Members of the national dialogue general assembly and President Omer al-Bashir attend the third session of the internal process in Khartoum on August 20, 2015 (Photo AFP/Ashraf Shazly)

On Monday 24 August 2015, the AUSPC held a hearing meeting for first time with the Sudanese opposition groups. On the day after, it issued a decision reiterating its call for a national dialogue preparatory conference the government has previously rejected.

In written statements he extended to Sudan Tribune on Saturday, Arman welcomed the AUPSC's decision, adding that it does not contradict with the opposition's agenda for popular uprising and armed struggle to achieve political change in Sudan.

"If the regime does not feel the uprising is knocking its doors and that military action is shaking its forts, it would not accept a comprehensive peaceful solution or a constitutional national dialogue," he said.

Arman said further that issues including calls to stop war, humanitarian access to affected civilians, comprehensive solution and the constitutional conference should serve for political mobilization and to attract all those who are interested by change even the Islamist seeking for new agenda based on the recognition of the other.

"We will not accept partial solutions and will not give up the demands of our people for change. Also we do not reject any new opportunity leading to national constitutional dialogue providing that it should be a balanced process and not controlled by the National Congress Party (NCP)," he stressed.

Sudanese government last March refused to participate in a two-day pre-dialogue meeting to discuss and agree on procedural matters relating to the dialogue process which should be held inside the country.

At the time, the government said hold the meeting two weeks before the elections will send a negative message to the voters and vowed to take part in such meeting after the elections.

However, President Omer al-Bashir told the chief mediator Thabo Mbeki who is tasked with the facilitation of the national dialogue that the government can resume talks with the rebel groups before they join the constitutional process.

In a meeting held on 3 August, Bashir further said that the holdout opposition political parties can join the process stressing that his government would not concede to their demands for a conducive environment and will not wait them.

National Umma Party leader Sadiq al-Mahdi on Friday said the opposition Sudan Call forces are willing to participate in the internal process but stressed they the dialogue should not be controlled by the ruling NCP as it is the case now and also insisted on the need to implement a conducive environment before.

Arman called to involve regional bodies like IGAD, and countries including Chad, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), permanent members of the Security Council, Germany and Norway.

He added that the international participants will recommend after the process to normalize Sudan relations ending the current isolation of the country.

(ST)

August 29, 2015 (JUBA/TORIT) - A South Sudanese journalist has gone missing nearly month after he was allegedly arrested and detained by security operatives in Eastern Equatoria state, his relatives and community members told Sudan Tribune on Saturday.

Clement Lochio Lormonana (Facebook photo)

Clement Lochio Lormonana, formerly a reporter with Gurtong Trust, was arrested on 6 August in Eastern Equatoria's Budi county, the Haula community, an association of the Didinga and Buya communities in Canada and the United States, said in a statement.

“[We are] writing to express urgent concerns […]to circumstance of South Sudanese journalist missing after being detained by South Sudan security forces on August 6,” partly reads the statement signed by the Haula diaspora group.

“Clement Lochio Lormonana was arrested in Chukudum, Budi County, with two friends when government security agents showed up in their hut in the middle of the night, rounded them up, and took them to the military barracks,” added the statement.

Eastern Equatoria governor, Louis Lobong Lojore, declined last week to answer queries regarding the arrest of three individuals in the capital, Juba. He instead said any suspect arrested by security forces would be investigated and then released if found innocent.

South Sudanese journalists operate in an extremely insecure environment and the recent killing of a reporter in Juba by unknown gunmen has increased more fear. The death of Peter Julius Moi brings to seven the numbers of scribes killed in South Sudan this year.

According to the Huala group, Lormonana and his brothers Amin Venansio and Nailo Venansio, were immediately placed in solitary confinement and tortured after their arrest.

“Even after Clement's arm was broken and Nailo started coughing blood, abusive interrogation went on uninterrupted,” the group further claimed in their statement.

Relatives said Lormonana and his brother were last seen being loaded onto a military vehicle.

“Nothing has been heard of them ever since. All attempts by the community to secure their release while still in Budi County failed", the community said in their release.

According to the Huala community, in the months leading to Lormonana's arrest, the journalist had shared his worries with his family members and friends because he allegedly received death threats and was reportedly being followed in Juba by stalkers.

"He found it necessary to leave his family and journalism work and go into hiding in Uganda and Kenya. The family abroad helped with his living expenses. He returned this month to Chukudum his home town hoping it would be a safe haven,” the group said.

Authorities in Eastern Equatoria are yet to comment on Lormonana's alleged arrest or whereabouts.

Front Line Defenders, a Dublin-based international human rights body, has asked the South Sudanese authorities to "unconditionally" release the renowned human rights defender.

(ST)

August 29, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudanese armed opposition faction of SPLM-IO has condemned government forces for allegedly continuing with military offensive against their bases in violation of the peace agreement signed by the opposition leader, Riek Machar and president Salva Kiir on 17 and 26 August, respectively.

Soldiers from the South Sudanese army (SPLA) on guard in Bentiu, the capital of South Sudan's Unity state on 12 January 2014 (Photo: Reuters)

“SPLM/SPLA condemns in the strongest possible terms the continued military offensive by forces of the regime in Juba against bases of SPLM/SPLA in Unity and Upper Nile states. Government forces on Friday shelled our bases in the west bank of the River Nile near Malakal, Upper Nile state's capital,” said James Gatdet Dak, spokesperson of the opposition's leadership, in a press statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Saturday.

“This is a serious violation of the terms of the peace Agreement signed on 17th and 26th August 2015 by the principals of the two warring parties and declaration of Permanent Ceasefire which shall come into effect at midnight of 29th August 2015,” he said.

Dak said three ferries and six boats carrying troops and mounted with heavy weaponry have been shelling their defence positions along the river in Unity state as they proceeded to Malakal.

“We suspect that their plan is to launch a full scale offensive against our bases around Malakal,” he added.

He called on the international community to exert pressure on the government to stop the war and abide by the declared ceasefire.

Government officials however denied the accusations and blamed the fighting around Malakal on the opposition fighters.

The two warring parties have declared permanent ceasefire to come into force by Saturday midnight, but it remains unclear if this will be respected.

(ST)

A kiíró pályázatot hirdet a közalapítvány által kezelt pályázatok bírálatában való részvételre köznevelés, felsőoktatás, felnőttoktatás vagy szakképzés területek valamelyikén dolgozó szakemberek részére.

A kiíró nyílt pályázatot hirdet, magas művészeti szakmai színvonalú zenei tervek megvalósításának támogatására.

A kíiró pályázatot hirdet Érthetően a Teljesebb Életemért, - "Nem az vagyok, ami megtörtént velem. Az vagyok, amivé válni akarok." című továbbképzésen való részvételre

A pályázat célja: Segíteni a pedagógusokat a holokauszt oktatásában a szükséges módszertani ismeretek megszerzésével az Intézet által rendelkezésre álló eszközök, lehetőségek felhasználásával.

A pályázat célja: A 2015/2016. tanévben a nemzetiségi nevelés-oktatásban használt tankönyvek beszerzésének, továbbá a nemzetiségi iskolai nevelési-oktatási feladatok ellátását segítő pedagógiai szakmai szolgáltatások igénybevételének a támogatása.