EU wants intl conference to boost Darfur peace deal
June 16, 2006 (BRUSSELS) — The European Union wants to organize an international conference on Darfur next month to push forward a fragile a peace deal in the Sudanese region, diplomats said Friday.
The E.U. aims to bring together the Sudanese government, rebel groups and international players such as the U.N., the U.S., African Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization for the talks.
The government and Darfur’s main rebel group signed a peace deal on May 5 to end a three-year conflict, which has claimed at least 180,000 lives and forced more than 2 million people to flee.
However the U.N. and aid groups have said violence has worsened since the peace deal was signed, as armed groups try to secure more territory a cease-fire takes effect.
E.U. foreign policy chief Javier Solana held talks this week with Sudan’s foreign minister and the head of the African Union Alpha Oumar Konare to prepare the conference.
The U.N. is seeking to persuade the Sudanese government to allow a U.N. force to take over peacekeeping in Darfur, replacing an over-stretched African Union force that has failed to stop the violence.
However, even if the government agrees, it expected to take several months before U.N. peacekeepers are ready to move in.
European officials said they hope an international conference could give new impetus to the peace process, and possibly help convince two smaller holdout Darfur rebel groups to sign up.
The officials said the plans to hold the conference remain tentative. Aside from sometime next month, they didn’t indicate when the conference could take place.
(ST/AP)