Sudanese government says western rebels “expected to honour” existing pact
By Al-Anba daily newspaper
KHARTOUM, Jan 21, 2004 — The minister of external relations, Dr Mustafa Uthman Isma’il, has said efforts are under way to overcome the obstacles faced by the current round of talks in the Kenyan town of Naivasha . [Passage omitted]
With regard to the Chadian envoy who is currently in Khartoum, Dr Mustafa said the Chadian government was still appealing for reconciliation [between the government and the rebels in Darfur, western Sudan.]
He said: “We do not reject this because the government’s strategy to resolve the Darfur problem is a political one and the government took military and security steps since it was forced to do so.”
In a press statement, Dr Mustafa said the government was expecting the rebels would announce their commitment to honour the Abeche agreement -which they signed and later breached – so that negotiations could be resumed.
Dr Mustafa revealed that the Canadian peace envoy, Senator Mobina Ja’far, would visit Sudan in early February. [Passage omitted]
He said: “Her visit comes in the framework of Canada’s active role in all fields, as well as its support for the peace process.”
BBC Monitoring Middle East