AU, rebels delegation to Khartoum to discuss peace implementation
May 22, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Delegations from the African Union and Darfur rebels will arrive to Khartoum within two days to discus practical steps toward the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement, said the head of the Sudanese delegation to Abuja talks.
Chief negotiator of the Sudanese government delegation at Darfur peace talks Majzoub al-Khalifa told reporters that a delegation of the African Union, headed by Ambassador Sam Ebok, and other delegations of the rebel groups are expected to arrive in Khartoum on Wednesday to begin the practical implementation of the peace agreement.
On May 5, Khartoum signed a peace deal with Minni Minawi- led faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) in the Nigerian capital Abuja to put an end to the three-year-old Darfur conflict.
The Sudanese official, who attended a meeting headed by the Sudanese president on the implementation of the peace agreement, said that arrangements are being adopted to receive signatories of Darfur peace agreement.
He stated that the higher committee’s meeting has reviewed reports of specialized committees and the vision of the political committee regarding the media and mobilization plans at the internal and external levels to boost the implementation of the agreement.
Al-Khalifa said that the technical committee has given at the meeting its vision concerning the items of disarmament, guaranteeing security at the sites, re-opening of passages and conducting tribal reconciliation, adding that the humanitarian affairs committee also referred to the assignment of 20,000 metric tons of food materials that would meet the requirements of the needy people in Darfur till next September.
He added that the meeting of the higher committee also heard a report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning its external contacts to acquaint with Darfur peace agreement and supports.
(ST)