US Rice calls for early resumption of Abuja talks
KHARTOUM, July 21, 2005 (SUNA) — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice suggested that earlier time shall be fixed for coming session of Abuja negotiations between the government and the armed movements in Darfur.
In a press statement Thursday, Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail said that Rice indicated that Darfur issue is needy for urgent settlement, therefore it would be better if a sooner time is set for resumption of the negotiations in Abuja rather than the date of August 24.
He said that the Secretary of State stated that she will discuss with the concerned parties, including the African Union, the possibility of resuming the negotiations before formerly set date.
Ismail indicated that the American administration is convinced that the peace agreement will have positive impacts on the situation all over Sudan, including Darfur and east Sudan.
He said that the US Secretary of State underscored the efforts of Sudan government to normalize the situation in Darfur, adding that she gave suggestions in this regard which were accepted in principle and will be studied by the government.
Meanwhile, the minister said that his ministry handed the US Secretary of State important papers, one of them is dealing with Sudan vision on the future of the relations between Sudan and the United States in the economic, peace, the regional and international field and the issues of mutual concern.
He added that another paper reviewed the role of the national committee to combat the impacts of the war in Darfur on the week categories.