Darfur official calls for better cooperation with UN
April 27, 2006 (AL-FASHIR) — Governor of North Darfur State Mohamed Yousif Kibir called for promoting cooperation between the Government and the United Nations for providing services to the people of Darfur states after the signing of the final peace agreement in Darfur.
Kibir received at the State Government premises the Special Representative of UN Secretary General for the Sudan Jan Pronk in the presence of the Chairman of the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) Baba Ghana Kingibi.
He affirmed the readiness of the Government for the establishment of a fruitful cooperation with the UN and the international organizations in Darfur for providing these services.
The Governor expressed his government’s appreciation towards the good services extended by the UN to the affected people in Darfur during the past period, affirming the necessity of reaching to a final and comprehensive solution of Darfur crisis through Abuja peace process.
On his part, Pronk affirmed that the UN is exerting efforts for the realization of peace and stability in Darfur and Sudan in general.
He pointed out that the document which was handed over to the parties by the AU mediators in Abuja, represents the comprehensive vision for handling Darfur issue at its all levels.
He expressed hope that it would find acceptance form all parties for the realization of peace agreement in the fixed time, adding that the tribal conciliations would support the process of peace and stability in Darfur.
The proposed Darur Peace Agreement, addressed complaints from Darfur rebel groups that they had been neglected by the national government. It called for the president to include a Darfur Senior assistant, initially nominated by the rebels, among his top advisers.
The draft, noting that Darfur was “historically deprived” and suffered severely from the war, also called for the establishment of a rehabilitation fund to which international donors would be asked to contribute, suspension of school fees at all levels for students from Darfur for five years and the adoption of a national anti-poverty plan.
“Steps shall be taken to compensate the people of Darfur and address grievances for lives lost, assets destroyed or stolen and suffering caused,” the draft said.
In the draft, mediators also proposed that the people of Darfur vote by 2010 on whether to create a single geographical entity out of the three current Darfur states, which would presumably have more political weight.
That provision was reminiscent of one in a treaty that ended an unrelated, 21-year north-south Sudan war last January. The north-south treaty, which called for a referendum on southern independence after six years, appears to have helped shape the Darfur draft.
(ST)