Egypt opposes more criticism, pressure on Sudan
June 21, 2007 (CAIRO) — Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit on Thursday said that Egypt cannot accept more criticism and pressure on the Sudanese government which is showing positive attitude as it accepted the deployment of a hybrid African Union-United Nations troops in Darfur.
Abul Gheit made the remarks during his talks with visiting China’s special representative for Darfur Liu Guijin, noting that Egypt and China have similar views on the issue of the western Sudanese region of Darfur to push for a comprehensive political solution.
Abul Gheit highlights China’s role in the process to achieve a long-term final solution to the Darfur issue, noting that Egypt is playing its part in providing medical assistance and water-supply facilities in Darfur and maintains close coordination with the Chinese side.
For his part, Liu noted that Egypt, with historical links with China, plays an very important role in regional affairs, especially on the Darfur issue, while China also plays an active and constructive role in Darfur.
Liu briefed Abul Gheit China’s stance on the Darfur issue, calling on the international community to work together to support a “fast and smooth” implementation of a joint statement issued on June 12 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by the AU, UN and Sudan on sending hybrid AU-UN peacekeeping force for Darfur.
The Darfur issue has shown positive trends after the joint statement said Khartoum had accepted the deployment of the hybrid AU-UN force for Darfur, Liu added, calling for more encouragement, not sanctions or pressure on the Sudanese government.
The Chinese envoy also explained the three principles which should be adhered to in the process of efforts to solve the Darfur issue, i.e. a political solution to the Darfur issue through equal dialogue and consultation; the leading role of the African Union (AU) in the three-party mechanism of consultations of the AU, the UN and the Sudanese government, with the Arab League playing a unique role and maintaining the Sudanese sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Liu noted that China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has been closely cooperating with the UN, AU and the Sudanese government on the Darfur issue, including the commitment to send 275 engineering troops to Darfur to support the second phase of the Annan plan, as well as 10 million U.S. dollars and other humanitarian support to Darfur.
Liu and Abul Gheit also coordinated the stances of the two sides on the upcoming international conference on Darfur to be held on June 25 in Paris.
Egypt is the third stop of Liu’s recent Africa trip, which already took him to South Africa and Ethiopia, and will also take him to Sudan.
(Xinhua)