Sudan hails supportive Egyptian stance on Darfur

March 10, 2007 (CAIRO) — Sudanese Minister of Justice Mohamed Ali al-Mardi Saturday praised Egypt’s supportive stances regarding establishing peace and stability in Sudan’s Darfur.

At a press conference held at the Sudanese embassy in Cairo, Mardi asserted his country’s firm stance concerning the establishment of peace in Darfur which, he said, did not accept any compromising of the national sovereignty of the country.

The trial of those involved in human rights violations in Darfur should take place inside Sudan and in conformity with the Sudanese justice system, the minister said

He pointed out that the stance of the International Criminal Court regarding Sudan did not help settle the Darfur problem as it sent the wrong signals to the movements which only complicated the situation, the Egyptian MENA news agency reported.

The Sudanese government exerted its utmost efforts to reach a ceasefire with the biggest rebel movements and has reshuffled the governments of Darfur provinces. The other side should also be ready for peace, he added.

He explained that the conflict in Darfur was a tribal one that revolved around the province’s scarce resources. It has never been an ethnic conflict, he added.

He contended that the situation in Darfur was better today than any time in the past, pointing out to 160 humanitarian organizations working there who have never came under attack except for one or two which was the case anywhere in the world.

The aspired development in Darfur could not take place unless stability and peace prevailed, he added.

(ST)