Slovene president calls for peace talks on Darfur1

Feb 9, 2006 (LJUBLJANA) — Slovene president Janez Drnovsek said Thursday that Slovenia was ready to host peace talks between the Sudanese government and representatives of the Darfur rebel groups.

Drnovsek said he has upgraded his proposed peace agreement for Darfur and has called for a meeting of the warring sides in Slovenia, the state-run STA reported.

In a press statement here on Thursday, he has expanded his proposed peace agreement for the western Sudanese province from 10 to 16 points.

This is no longer just a draft version of a peace agreement but a proposal that has been sent to the Sudanese government and rebels for consideration, Drnovsek said.

According to Drnovsek, a meeting should now take place between the warring sides.

We are trying to harmonise the views of the two sides so that a meeting could be held as early as this weekend, Drnovsek added.

He said that logistical and political aspects of a meeting were beginning worked out, with the UN asked to help with transport.

“The warring sides have accepted my role as a mediator and have indicated that the original proposal for a peace agreement was a good basis for talks”, Drnovsek told the press.

Drnovsek refused to specify where such a meeting would be taking place, saying only that Slovenia has a number of suitable locations.

He said he was hopeful that the meeting would be attended by government representatives and officials of all three rebel movements in Darfur. He also invited tribal leaders to the meeting, but not representatives of international organisations.

Moreover, the Slovenian president has sent a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the EU as well as the presidents of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, to outline the latest developments in his Darfur appeal.

Drnovsek also welcomed the Slovenian government’s decision to approve aid of SIT 30m (EUR 125,000) for humanitarian organisations working in Darfur.

(ST)