US should support African Union forces in Darfur – Egypt
Oct 21, 2006 (CAIRO) — Egypt has advised the United States to stop pressures on the Sudanese government over the UN forces takeover in troubled region of Darfur suggesting to support the African forces at the current stage.
In talks with the US envoy to Sudan, Andrew Natsios, the Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Aboul Gheit said his country focused on the importance the international community supports the African Union forces at the present stage and bring Darfur holdout rebels to join Darfur Peace Agreement, besides the immediate convocation of the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue Conference.
The Egyptian minister affirmed the importance of solving Darfur issue through negotiations away from pressures. He referred in this respect to contacts Egypt is making with the Security Council members, UN and other international parties to present alternatives and formulas that can contribute to solving the dispute on the transfer of the mandate of peacekeeping in Darfur to the UN.
Following the meeting, the Egyptian foreign minister said in press statements that he proposed to the US official some ideas that Egypt believes they could solve the issue resulting of Sudan’s rejection to the UN forces in Darfur and the stance calling for deploying them.
While, Natsios indicated he discussed with Amr Musa, the Arab League Secretary General, a proposal offered by Egypt and the AL on the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1706 on Darfur.
Natsios declined to discuss the proposal in detail, saying the U.S. would mull this proposal which he described as “very constructive.” A strong peacekeeping force is a must in Darfur to stabilize the situation, Natsios underlined.
The UN Security Council passed a resolution on August 31, under the authority of Chapter 6 of the UN charter, calling for up to 20,000 peacekeepers to be dispatched to Darfur, an area the size of France where the small ill-equipped AU contingent has failed to restore peace. But Sudan refuses to authorise its deployment.
Aboul Gheit held talks with Natsios, in Cairo on Saturday 21 October who is en rout to Washington after his visit to Sudan. The US envoy acquainted the Egyptian minister with the outcome of his visit to Sudan and the talks he held with the Sudanese officials on developments of Darfur crisis.
(ST)