Mediators choose Libya as venue to deliver Darfur rebels
September 6, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The choice of Libya as a venue came as a surprise as Tanzania had been seen as most likely to host the talks. But U.N. officials said Libya can deliver more rebel groups to the talks.
U.N. officials said Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir had put forward the idea to hold the talks there at a meeting with Ban earlier this week, but they believed it had originally come from the African Union.
“The Libyan government has been playing a very constructive role” over Darfur, Ban said, and he and AU Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare were “of the same view that Tripoli could work as a good place.” Other U.N. officials said it was unclear if the talks would be in the capital or elsewhere in Libya.
“The idea is that maybe Gaddafi can deliver more movements,” said a senior U.N. official who asked not to be named, referring to Darfur’s splintered rebel movements.
Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol told the news conference at least six countries had offered to host the talks, all of them acceptable to Sudan. “We have no problems with the choice,” he said.
Thursday’s announcement marks another step in Libya’s re-emergence on the world stage after years in which it was ostracised by the West for alleged sponsorship of terrorism and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction.
The United States welcomed the peace talks and said it was ready to support them.
“We’re encouraged by the renewed efforts to obtain lasting peace in Sudan,” said White House spokesman Tony Fratto. “The U.N. with Ban Ki-moon’s leadership and the African Union should be applauded for working to bring all sides to the negotiating table.”
(Reuters/ST)