Dutch Foreign Minister to visit Sudan in September

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Aug 26, 2004 (PANA) — Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot is expected in Khartoum 9 September for
talks with Sudanese government officials, a Dutch
diplomatic sources said Thursday in Brussels.

The visit is under the auspices of the European Union
(EU) currently chaired by the Netherlands.

The sources said Bot is expected to assess the Khartoum
government’s fulfilment of its undertaking with the UN to
disarm the Janjaweed militias and ensure security in the
troubled western region of Darfur.

The EU has announced the release of 250 million Euro to
finance peacekeeping operations in Africa, under its Facility
for the Support of Peacekeeping Operations, which it set
up under an agreement with the African, Caribbean and
Pacific (ACP) countries.

EU sources said funds from the Facility would be used
to finance African peace mission to Darfur.

The EU has also announced the release of some 20 million Euro
in humanitarian assistance for displaced persons in Darfur.