Egypt to open office in Darfur

May 9, 2007 (CAIRO) – Egypt will open an office in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region to follow closely the political and security developments in the region, the foreign minister said.

Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Aboul-Gheit yesterday announced that his country has decided to open a diplomatic office in Darfur to observe the situation on the ground. He said the Egyptian ambassador in Khartoum and an Egyptian diplomatic mission would be traveling to and from Darfur at short intervals in order to observe the situation in the region.

Aboul Gheit held talks yesterday with AU envoy Salem Ahmad and UN envoy Jan Eliasson on Darfur peace process.

Following the talks with the two envoys, the Egyptian foreign minister said the proposed vision includes a call for convening a new meeting on the pattern of the Addis Ababa one held on November 16, 2006, with the participation of the principal regional and international parties, to ensure support for the proposed road map as a prelude to its endorsement by the UN Security Council and to monitoring its implementation in a serious manner within a specified time frame.

He said the meeting dealt also with the recent Tripoli move that discussed support to efforts exerted under the aegis of the UN and AU to ensure that the non-signatory rebel movements joined the Abuja Agreement, in such a way as to contribute to restoring stability and providing the proper climate for the success of peacekeeping assignments in the province.

Aboul Gheit warned of the serious consequences of escalation and threats to impose sanctions on Sudan at a time the Sudanese Government has begun to respond swiftly and seriously to the requirements made by the international community for bolstering peacekeeping in Darfur.

(ST)