Egyptian envoy, AU mediator discusses Darfur peace deal

May 7, 2006 (ABUJA) — President Hosni Mubarak’s personal envoy to Darfur peace negotiations Ahmed Hajjaj held talks Sunday with the African Union (AU) chief negotiator Salim Ahmad Salim on recent progress achieved in Darfur.

Speaking to MENA, Hajjaj said he discussed with the AU official the coming steps to put into effect the peace agreement signed by the Sudanese government and Sudan Liberation Army (SLA).

Hajjaj also discussed with Salim the upcoming meetings of the African Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa and its potential role in supervising the AU forces in the war-torn region.

The council meetings will be a chance for other Darfurian rebel groups to join the peace agreement, he said.

President Hosni Mubarak’s personal envoy to Darfur peace negotiations Ahmad Hajjaj also met Sunday with Dutch Minister of Development Cooperation Agnes Van Ardenne.

The meeting dwelt on a proposed international conference on Darfur reconstruction to be hosted by the Netherlands in September.

Hajjaj said a recent declaration by the World Food Programme to cut aid for Darfur due to shortage of funds was a worrying development.

“We will cooperate with the international community to evade such a move,” he said.

For her part, the Dutch minister said her country has decided to offer 10m euros in urgent aid to help Darfur refugees return home.

The EU has earmarked 30m euros for the same purpose, said she.

(ST)