France to host meeting for contact group on Darfur

June 22, 2007 (PARIS) — A ministerial meeting of the enlarged international contact group on Darfur will take place in Paris Monday June 25 with a view to accelerating the resolution of the Darfur crisis, French foreign ministry announced today.

In a press briefing the spokesperson of the foreign ministry said that the participants in the meeting will review the prospects for the revival of the political process, humanitarian and security situation in Darfur, reconstruction and development of areas affected by the crisis and regional repercussions.

The aim of the meeting is to rally and unify the international community around the efforts of the African Union and United Nations in Darfur and the entire region, according to the ministry.

The meeting is bringing together major donors, regional organizations from Africa and the Arab world as well as the European Union, UN Security Council and G8 in order to arrive at an “international consensus” on future actions.

According to the French ministry of foreign affairs, countries that will participate in the meeting are : USA, Netherlands, Canada, Norway, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Portugal, UK, Belgium, Egypt, China, Spain, Russia, Japan and Germany as current president of the European Union.

The ministry said the parties involved directly in the conflict, such as Sudanese government, Darfur rebel groups or Chad are not invited in this meeting.

While the meeting is attended by the UN secretary general, the Arab league secretary general, and the secretary general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the African Union declined the invitation to participate in Paris meeting on Darfur.

“The African Union said its policy is not to participate in the meetings of contact groups.” The spokesperson said.

Major donors also will attend the meeting like the president of the African Development Bank and the World Bank director for African.

However, he considered as positive step the Sudan’s acceptance of a joint AU/UN peacekeeping force in Darfur. “We wish to boost this acceptance by showing the readiness of the international community to support the deployment of this hybrid force,” he added.

(ST)