French minister to attend Darfur peace talks in Libya

October 26, 2007 (PARIS) — French Agricultural Minister Michel Barnier will represent France in the Darfur peace negotiations scheduled to begin Saturday in the Libyan city of Syrte, the French foreign ministry said Friday.

“As the minister for foreign affairs Bernard Kouchner is currently visiting Asia, it is the agricultural minister Barnier, accompanied by foreign affairs officials, who will personally represent President Nicolas Sarkozy during the opening of the negotiations in Syrte,” said the foreign ministry spokeswoman Pascale Andreani.

Barnier is a former foreign minister 2004-5.

Paris also appointed a special envoy for Darfur peace talks, Issa Maraut, who will follow the peace talks.

The Darfur peace negotiations, due to start Saturday in Libya, are facing numerous hurdles due to boycott threats by seven rebel factions, persistent violence in the region and the current political crisis between the northern and southern Sudan, according to reports.

(Xinhua/ST)