AU peace official discuss Darfur process with Sudanese parties
Feb 10, 2006 (ABUJA) — the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Saïd Djinnit, yesterday Thursday 9 February 2006, held separate consultations with the Movements, the GoS, and the International Partners.
During his meeting with the Sudanese Movements (SLM/A and JEM), Ambassador Djinnit re-stated that the objective of his visit was to assess and review the status of the Talks and encourage all Sudanese Parties to speed up the negotiations.
He further said that the African Union attaches paramount importance to finding a solution of the crisis in Darfur, which he added, was of major concern not only to Africa but to the International community at large, said a press release issued by the AU spokesperson Noureddine Mezni.
With regard to the Talks, the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security reiterated the “sense of impatience on the part of the International Community” on the slow pace and the perception that the Sudanese Parties were not negotiating with the requisite sense of urgency and urged them to take the Talks more seriously in order to reach an agreement.
He further added that the arguments and views of the Parties are now known and that it was time to take decisive action in order to move the peace process forward.
The Sudanese Parties commended the AU and AMIS for the efforts exerted so far and expressed their full support for the Abuja Process.
Abdelwahedd Al-Nour SLM/A Chairman, called for an end to all violence and for sanctions to be imposed on all those committing atrocities against innocent civilians and violating the ceasefire, reported the AU spokesperson.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Djinnit, while underscoring that targeted sanctions were being considered by the UN Security Council against individuals obstructing the peace process, reiterated AU’s determination to pursue the Talks to its logical conclusion with the cooperation of all the Parties.
He further stated that the AU was in the process of strengthening the capacities of AMIS, to overcome the current inadequacy of resources hampering its effectiveness.
In a subsequent meeting with members of the Government of the Sudan (GoS) delegation led by Magzoub Al-Khalifa, Ambassador Djinnit reiterated his earlier message. He also underlined that the GoS has a bigger responsibility and commitment to achieve comprehensive peace in Darfur; as the unity of the Sudan is critical for the future of Africa.
On his part, Al-Khalifa, stressed the need to establish a firm timeframe to fast track the negotiations, and for all the Parties to respect all previous agreements and that the existing mechanisms should be strengthened to make them more effective.
The AU Commissioner reiterated, before the governmental delegation, the need for AMIS to evolve into a robust Peacekeeping, which is the responsibility of the United Nations, which has the means and mandate to maintain such a force.
He further stressed the fact that the Sudanese Parties should approach the Talks with a degree of flexibility with the objective of arriving at an agreement as soon as possible.
Djinnit also met with the International Partners and commended them for their contributions to the peace process and urged them to continue to be actively engaged as partners of the AU Mediation in search for a comprehensive peace Agreement.
The International Partners reiterated their support for the AU Mediation and their continued commitment to assist in bringing the Talks to successful conclusion.
(ST)