Sudanese president agrees to hasten Abuja talks: FM

KHARTOUM, July 23, 2005 (Xinhua) — Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismail said here Saturday that Sudanese President Omar al- Bashir has agreed to hasten the upcoming round of Abuja peace talks with the Darfur rebels.

Officials of the Sudanese government wait for resumption of talks with rebel leaders 10 June 2005, during a summit on Darfur crisis in Abuja. (AFP).

“President al-Bashir confirmed the government’s readiness to resume the next round of Abuja talks earlier if the other sides agree,” the Sudanese foreign minister said at a press statement.

He added that al-Bashir welcomed the proposal made by US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice of hastening the sixth round of Abuja talks, saying Rice promised to contact the concerned parties for the support to the proposal.

Also on Saturday, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry demanded the African Union Commission speed up the upcoming round of Abuja talks as there is enough political impetus for its success.

Ismail described the latest visit of Rice to Sudan as “an advanced and important step” to improve bilateral relations.

He said the diplomatic representation between the two countris are expected to be raised to the level of ambassador within this year.

Rice, during her visit to Sudan on Thursday, offered a proposal to the Sudanese government and the Darfur rebel groups to hold the sixth round of peace talks earlier than its fixed date on Aug. 29.

She connected normalization of bilateral relations to the development of the situations in the Sudan’s western region of Darfur and the implementation of the southern Sudan peace agreement.