AU chief urges Sudanese parties to participate in Darfur talks

October 25, 2007 (ADDIS ABAB) — African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare on Thursday urged all Sudanese parties to “constructively” participate in the talks to be held in Libya’s Sirte city on Saturday.

In a statement issued by the AU headquarters, Konare also urged them “to demonstrate the necessary spirit of compromise and extend full cooperation to the AU and the United Nations.”

He stressed that the talks are a unique opportunity the parties must seize to bring about lasting peace and reconciliation in Sudan’s Darfur region.

In the statement, Konare reiterated his appeal to all parties concerned “to refrain from any act of violence on the ground and from any other act likely to undermine the peace talks.”

He emphasized the determination of the AU “to take appropriate action against any party that would attempt to undermine the peace talks and the ongoing efforts by the AU and the UN.”

(Xinhua)