African Union’s monitoring teams start their mission

KHARTOUM, June 13, 2004 (SUNA) — Teams of the African Union for monitoring the cease-fire in Darfur states have begun practicing their mission after removal of all the obstacles which confronted their work in the past period, said the State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Mohamed Yousif Abdalla.

In a press statement Sunday, the minister said that the British government’s donation of three million sterling pounds in support of the monitoring teams has given a push forward to their work.

He said that the commission’s membership would be completed in the coming period.

The minister said that there were several violations of the cease-fire before assumption of the monitoring teams to their work in Darfur. He said that no new violations or collapse of cease-fire are expected in the coming period, adding that all parties have a desire that the cease-fire will continue.

He said that the negotiations between the concerned parties in Darfur issue would be resumed as soon as preparations are completed. The minister stressed the government readiness to engage in dialogue for solution of Darfur problem as well as convocation of the National Comprehensive conference for Development and Peaceful Co-existence in Darfur states.

The State Minister for Humanitarian Aid said that an emergency mechanism is established at the ministry to follow up and confront the emergency conditions in Darfur during the rainy season.

He announced that a plan has been worked out to provide shelter and seeds and to implement programmes for voluntary repatriation of the displaced citizens to their home areas during the coming two months.

He said that the Ministry of Interior will live up to its role for realizing security and stability in Darfur. Meanwhile, the minister indicated that a joint committee of the United Nations and the government has been set up to assess the requirements of the Upper Nile State for food materials.