French official to visit Sudan on Sunday

October 19, 2007 (PARIS) — French state minister at the foreign ministry will begin a three-day visit to Sudan where she will hold talks with the Sudanese officials on Darfur humanitarian situation as well as north-south peace implementation.

The French foreign affairs ministry said today in a press statement issued in Paris that Ms Rama Yade during a visit from 21 to 23 October will discuss with the Sudanese authorities of the situation in Darfur and the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in January 2005.

Paris didn’t mention with whom the French official will meet but it seems that she will meet Sudanese government officials and Sudan people’s Liberation Movement officials in Khartoum to discuss

“The Secretary of State will pay special attention to humanitarian projects turned to the children, their situation in Darfur, as well as that of women. The statement said.

Rama will visit the capital of North Darfur state, al-Fasher wher she is expected to meet the local authorities and humanitarian community, the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and the command of the hybrid force there.

Since the election of the president Nicolas Sarkozy, the French government shows more concern over the political situation in Sudan. Paris coordinates efforts with London and Washington to settle Darfur crisis in a way that angered Khartoum.

Last July Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir on Sunday accused his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy of “riding the American wave” by turning his back on the “pro-Arab” stance of his predecessor Jacques Chirac.

Also the deployment of 3000 European troops in the Chad and Central Africa along the Sudanese border to protect Darfur refugees in these countries is not much appreciated by Khartoum because it will restrict the movement of Khartoum backed Chadian opposition in the region.

However through Rama visit, Paris wants to encourage peace efforts and participate in the development of the country particularly in the South were some French firms are involved in big investment projects.

During a visit to Sudan in last June, the French foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, had “extremely difficult” talks with Sudanese official. Khartoum was very reserved towards French initiative to organize a conference on Darfur.

(ST)