Sudan reiterates commitment to Doha peace process

May 12, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan is committed to the Doha peace process in order to reach a negotiated solution with rebel groups to end the seven year conflict in Darfur region.

Ali Karti Sudan’s state minister for foreign affairs made these remarks in a meeting held on Tuesday with the visiting Japanese official Keitaro Sato, Ambassador in Charge of Peace Building and Refugee-Related Issues in Africa and Special Envoy for UN Reform.

Karti reaffirmed to the Japanese envoy government’s keenness to pursue the ongoing peace process in Doha with the rebel groups in Darfur to achieve peace and stability in the region.

Sudanese government announced last week the departure of its delegation to Doha, to resume peace negotiation with the rebel groups. As the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) has suspended its participation the talks are expected to resume with the Liberation and Justice Movement led by El-Tijani El-Sissi.

Khartoum had said in the past that it would reconsider its participation in the Doha peace process if a peace deal is not concluded before the elections.

The meeting also discussed the after election stage in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Sato expressed Japan’s willingness to support the organization of the referendum on self determination in southern Sudan and border demarcation.

Japan seeking to get a permanent seat in the UN Security Council has intensified its support to the various peace building efforts undertaken by the international community to end conflicts across the glob.

(ST)