Sudan says committed to peaceful solution to Darfur crisis

April 3, 2006 (KHARTUM) — Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir reiterated on Monday his government’s “full commitment” to a peaceful solution to the country’s Darfur conflict.

Addressing an inaugural session of a second meeting of the National Legislative Authority, which comprises the National Assembly and the Council of States, al-Bashir said that the Darfur issue was still on top agenda of the government.

He highlighted in his remarks the necessity to support the African Union’s (AU) peacekeeping mission in Darfur.

“We believe that the African role in Darfur guarantees the realization of a peaceful solution to the conflict,” said the president.

Meanwhile, he reaffirmed his government’s commitment to all items of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which was signed in January 2005, ending 21-year long civil war between the north and the south.

Appreciating the country’s economic improvement, the president said that his country has maintained an average 8 percent economic growth rate in recent years, a remarkable achievement by Khartoum.

He also praised continuous stability of Sudanese currency’s exchange, attributing it to the decrease of inflation rate, which is around 9 percent for now.

The exportation revenue in 2005 reached 182 million U.S. dollars while direct taxation imposed on industry decreased to 10 percent from 30 percent, said the president.

Sudan’s western volatile Darfur region has been plagued by clashes since 2003 when local farmers took up arms against Khartoum, accusing it of neglecting the barren area. Thousands of people have been killed and more displaced in years of violence.

A 7,800-strong AU forces has been in Darfur since 2004 to observe a shaky ceasefire agreement between the Sudanese government and the Darfur rebels.

Rounds of peace talks between Khartoum and Darfur rebels have been held in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, but the talks have yet to yield any fruits so far.

(Xinhua/ST)