Holland can host Darfur peace talks if demanded- minister

February 5, 2008 (AMSTERDAM) — The Dutch government would seriously consider hosting peace talks for Darfur if the request came from the African Union or the United Nations, a Dutch minister said on Tuesday while on a visit to Sudan.

“The Netherlands is prepared to take an active role in bringing together rebel groups (and the Sudanese government),” Development Minister Bert Koenders said after meeting with a representative of the Sudan Liberation Movement/ Army (SLM/A) rebel group, according to Dutch news agency ANP.

ANP quoted SLM/A commander Ahmed Abdel Shafi as saying ahead of the meeting: “The Netherlands would be a good option for peace talks.” He added: “Last October we gave a letter to the Dutch ambassador in Khartoum, with a request for peace talks in the Netherlands.”

Some rebel groups have signed a peace deal with the Sudanese government but the insurgents have split into many factions and others are still fighting for a renewed peace process.

International experts estimate some 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million have been driven from their homes in Darfur’s conflict which has sparked the world’s largest humanitarian operation.

The United Nations and the African Union are due to deploy a 26,000-strong peacekeeping force in Darfur.

(Reuters)