Remark by Chadian envoy over Darfur talks “upsetting”: Sudanese official

KHARTOUM, May 21, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — The secretary-general of the ruling National Congress (NC), Ibrahim Ahmed Omar, has termed the statement by Sagar Youcif, the Chadian ambassador in Sudan, in which he said the talks between the Sudanese government and the Darfur rebels should be transferred to Addis Ababa as upsetting.

According to Al-Sahafa daily newspaper, Omar said such a statement needed a clarification from the Chadian government in order for us to know whether or not such a statement was serious.

Briefing the media yesterday, the secretary general of the National Congress said that as far as the position of the Sudanese government is concerned, the Chadian government has adopted a clear and right position, and that its role as a mediator is still valid.

On the other hand, Sudan’s Foreign minister denied rumours that Sudanese president would visit Chad within coming days to discuss Darfur issue with Chadian president Idriss Deby. The minister indicated that the two presidents discussed this question during the annual meeting of the Community of Sahel and Sahara States, held in Mali’s capital, Bamako last week.