Libya, Darfur rebels discuss formation of peace negotiators team
Feb 22, 2007 (TRIPOLI) — Chad, Eritrea and Libya discussed with Darfur rebels groups in a meeting held today in Libya ways to from a united delegation for the coming talks with the Sudanese government, a rebel statement said.
The rebel National Redemption Front said in a press release that Eritrean president, Isaias Afewerki, his Chadian counterpart, Idriss deby and high level Libyan delegation met Thursday in Tripoli with the Darfur rebel groups invited to Libya.
The meeting discussed the “forming of a common and united negotiating front.” It, also, “explored ways for moving forward and bringing Darfur crisis to a peaceful and speedy end”.
The meeting was attended by Khalil Ibrahim (NRF), Commander Ahmed Abdelshafi (SLM), Sharif Harir (NRF), Commander Adam Bakheit (NRF), Commander Khamis Abdalla Abakr (NRF).
Libyan authorities have dissociated the meeting with the Darfur rebel groups from the quadripartite meeting with the participation of Chad, Eritrea and Sudan. In addition they said that the summit didn’t tackle the issue of the armed groups.
The Libyan secretary of the General People’s Committee for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation has said that the quadripartite summit, held last night, focused on normalizing relations between the two neighboring, Chad and Sudan.
“This summit has achieved one fundamental thing centred on normalizing relations between Sudan and Chad in accordance with the Tripoli Peace Accord signed on 8 February 2006.”
He further added that Libya and Eritrea would set up the relevant mechanisms and that there would be joint committees involving all sides and these would start their work on the ground within two weeks.
(ST)