Sudan govt ready to reach final solution to Darfur issue: official

KHARTOUM, May 30, 2005 (Xinhua) — The Sudanese government is ready for the next round of peace talks on Darfur in the Nigerian capital of Abuja on June 10, the Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported here Monday.

Majzoub el-Khalifa, head of the Sudanese delegation to the Abuja talks.

Majzoub el-Khalifa, head of the Sudanese delegation to the Abuja talks, was quoted as saying that the government is keen to reach a final political solution to the Darfur conflict with rebel groups in the region.

Khalifa made the remarks at a session of a rotating meeting of the High Committee for evaluating the improvements of the Darfur issue chaired by Sudanese First Vice President Ali Othman Mohammed Taha.

The committee approved a comprehensive political view of the Darfur conflict in the economic and social fields, power sharing at both federal and states levels and the distribution of wealth as well as the final regulations for implementing what is agreed on.

Khalifa expressed his agreement with the remarks by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan during his recent visit to Sudan that all principles of the southern Sudan peace agreement would form a good framework for solving the Darfur crisis.

He stressed the need to hold an inclusive conference on the Darfur issue in preparation to enhance peace in the region and to create an atmosphere conducive for implementing what will be agreed on.

Darfur rebels took up arms in Sudan’s arid western Darfur region against the government in February 2003. Many people have been killed during two years of violence and more displaced.

The African Union (AU) has brokered a shaky ceasefire and sent a small force of military observers, but has struggled to find a political solution and three previous rounds of talks in the Nigerian capital Abuja made little progress.