Sudan appreciates France concern over Darfur crisis

KHARTOUM, May 9, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — The Sudanese Presidential Political Advisor, Qotbi Al-Mahdi, has affirmed the government appreciation of the concern of France with the situation in Darfur, the official SUNA reported.

The Sudanese official made this statement when he received Monday at the Republican Palace the Ambassador of France Christine Robichon to Sudan.

Al-Mahdi said at the meeting that France can play an important role for boosting realization of peace in Darfur by calling on Darfur rebels to cooperate with the African Union and participation in the negotiations in Abuja.

The Ambassador of France said that the crisis in the relations between the two countries, which was due to the Security Council’s resolution 1593, was surpassed, indicating that there is now progress in the bilateral relations in all domains.

Madame Robichon said that the resolution 1593 was not targeting Sudan government, but was intended to affirm the deep concern with the humanitarian situation in Darfur.

The ambassador said that a delegation of French businessmen of the company which import Arabic gum from Sudan have shown desire to visit Sudan in the coming period to discuss the possibility of establishing a unit for processing Arabic gum.

The French ambassador referred to former visits exchanged by officials of the two countries, including the visit of the Minister of Energy and Mining, Awad Ahmed Al-Jaz, to France last year.

She said that the French Foreign Minister have a desire to visit Sudan in a time which was not yet fixed, adding that this visit is intended to bolster the bilateral relations.