TEXT- AU top mediator hails UK efforts to bring peace in Darfur
Feb 14, 2006 (ABUJA) — African Union chief mediator of the Darfur peace talks, Salim Ahmed Salim hailed today the UK “continuing commitment” to the efforts to bring the conflict and its consequences, to an end within the shortest possible time.
He said violence on the ground in Darfur, is impacting negatively on the negotiations. Salim further said there is a need to call upon “those who feel that they can fight and talk peace at the same time”, to put an end to all offensive actions on the ground in Darfur.
The African Union, which has about 7,000 peacekeepers in Darfur, says it hopes a peace deal will be reached soon but has signalled that its patience with the Abuja negotiators is limited.
AU top mediator stated that the Security Arrangements and Power Sharing negotiations are making very slow progress.
Straw also announced that Britain will give a further 1 million pounds ($1.74 million) to the African Union for its work in supporting the peace process.
Civil war has raged in Darfur since February 2003, causing tens of thousands of deaths and displacing millions of people from their homes.
Below the full text of the Welcome statement by Salim Ahmed Salim, A.U. Special Envoy and Chief Mediator of the Darfur talks on the occasion of the visit of the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, Jack Straw, to the venue of the talks on 14 February 2006.
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Distinguished Guest, Hon. Jack Straw, Foreign and
Commonwealth Secretary of the United Kingdom,
Your Excellency, Olu Adeniji, Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Leaders and Representatives of the Sudanese Parties –
the Government of the Sudan, the Sudan Liberation Movement/
Army and the Justice and Equality Movement,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to welcome our distinguished guest to this modest venue of the Inter-Sudanese Peace Talks on the Conflict in Darfur. I need hardly underscore the fact that Honourable Straw’s presence in our midst today, reflects not only a growing concern over the situation in Darfur, but most importantly, the continuing commitment of Her Majesty’s Government, to the efforts to bring the conflict and its consequences, to an end within the shortest possible time.
Secondly, this visit by the Secretary is undertaken at a particularly critical time in the ongoing efforts to find a negotiated and political solution to the tragic situation in Darfur. At a time that we are witnessing a progressive deterioration of the situation on the ground in Darfur, coinciding as it were, with the agonizingly slow pace of progress at the Talks here in Abuja, the visit could not have been better timed. Mr. Secretary, you have come at a time when many within Africa and outside the Continent, are beginning to express serious concern and even some doubts and cynicism on the prospects of achieving a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Darfur. Others have even questioned the seriousness or commitment of the Parties to negotiate a just deal for lasting peace in their homeland.
In spite of the sceptism that some have expressed on the Talks, I believe that your visit has coincided with a period of slow but steady progress that is being made here in Abuja, even if we are still not very happy with the pace of the negotiation. It is a fact that we already met in Six Rounds and have now spent about two months of the 7th Round, that is expected to be the decisive and final Round. Clearly, we have to be honest and admit that, progress has not been commensurate with the time we have spent here. Granted, that the atmospherics have started to improve and the level of confidence of the Negotiators is increasing, however, problems persist. The fighting, the banditry and the level of violence on the ground in Darfur, is impacting negatively on our Talks, which is why we need once more to call upon the Parties, particularly, those who feel that they can fight and talk peace at the same time, to immediately put an end to all offensive actions on the ground in Darfur, as a mark of their commitment to a negotiated settlement of the conflict.
Mr. Secretary,
The report card on the Talks is mixed. I am happy to state that in the area of Wealth Sharing, our work is almost done. The Security Arrangements and Power Sharing negotiations are making very slow progress. The next few weeks will be critical and will really test the commitment of the Parties to successfully negotiate a peace Agreement.
Mr. Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary,
It would be remiss of me to conclude this brief welcome statement, without commending your Government for being very supportive of the efforts of the African Union, both at the political level here in Abuja, within the UN Security Council and in the European Union, as well as on the ground in Darfur where financial and material support are being extended to the African Mission in the Sudan. Your Special Envoy to the Talks, Amb. Alan Goulty and his collaborators have been very helpful and continue to work with the Mediation and the Parties, in a true spirit of international partnership.
On a more personal note, Mr. Secretary, I wish to place on record, our appreciation for the very keen interest that you have taken in advancing the cause of peace both in the Sudan and in Africa, generally. This is hardly surprising, given your familiarity with the challenges that confront us on the Continent and the friendship that has developed over the years, between Africa and the United Kingdom.
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure for me to formally welcome and introduce to you, a distinguished friend of Africa, the Honourable Jack Straw.
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