Egypt backs Sudan hosting African, Arab summits
Dec 24, 2005 (MENA) — Ambassador Masum Marzuq, the director of Sudan’s Department at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, affirmed Cairo’s full support of Sudan’s hosting of the coming African and Arab summits.
According to the Egyptian MENA, in a press conference at the end of his visit to Khartoum, Marzuq said the formation of a transitional government in Sudan, signing the Naivasha peace accord last year and Sudan’s independence 50 years ago are all elements which assert the importance of holding both summits in Khartoum.
Despite Cairo’s knowledge of Sudan’s capability to organize international events, Egypt will provide Sudan with needed support in this respect.
The Egyptian ambassador heading the Foreign Ministry’s Department on Sudan said Cairo sympathizes with victims of the Sudanese civil war currently maintaining a sit-in in front of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Cairo.
Marzuq said Egypt dealt with the case at two levels; a humanitarian and a legal one, while contacting the UNHCR office in Cairo and its HQ in Geneva.
The UNHCR office in Cairo offered three solutions, which are resettlement in Sudan, merging into the Egyptian community and heading for a third country, the diplomat said.
The solution of a third country cannot be imposed whether by Egypt or the UNHCR, he added.
During his visit to Sudan, Marzuq delivered a message from Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Aboul el Gheit to Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol. The diplomat also inspected the western Darfur Region.
(ST)