Eritrean president begins consultations on Darfur, east Sudan
April 22, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki who arrived yesterday to Khartoum discussed today peace process in Sudan’s restive Darfur region and implementation of Eastern Sudan peace with the Sudanese official.
President Isaias Afwerki met today with Sudanese Vice-President Ali Osman Taha and senior presidential aide and former rebel Minni Minawi. The visiting president discussed with the two Sudanese officials Darfur peace process and efforts exerted by his government to promote the resolution of the four-year conflict.
Eritrea mediated a peace agreement between Sudan and eastern rebels in October last year, and hopes to play a major role in bringing those Darfur rebels who did not sign a 2006 peace deal to the negotiating table with the government.
Khartoum has expressed willingness to hold peace talks in Asmara, but some western nations are wary they will be sidelined if negotiations are held in the Red Sea state.
Also, the Eritrean president received the head of the Sudanese delegation for Eastern Sudan peace talks, Mustafa Osman Ismail. The meeting reviewed the implementation of Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement.
The United Nations says around 200,000 people have been killed in Darfur and 2.5 million displaced since the conflict flared in 2003 when rebel groups took up arms against the government.
Khartoum agreed last week to allow the deployment of U.N. personnel to Darfur to help the 7,000-strong African Union force there.
(ST)