EU urges parties concerned to attend Darfur peace talks
October 25, 2007 (BRUSSELS) — Javier Solana, top diplomat of the European Union, urged here Thursday all invited parties to attend the Darfur peace talks in Libya.
Solana said in a statement that “representative participation is essential in the long awaited negotiations for peace in Darfur,” Sudan.
He urged the parties to contribute constructively and in good faith to a successful outcome, saying, “This is the moment that all should live up to their responsibilities.”
“As a first and indispensable step, the violence should stop,” he noted, “All parties should commit themselves unequivocally to a cessation of hostilities, and to participation in an effective ceasefire mechanism.”
The negotiations, he said, should meet the strong and rightful expectations of the people of Darfur for security, for justice and renewed opportunities for development of their communities.
He pledged that the EU “stands ready to support the fulfillment of these expectations politically and economically”.
The peace talks are slated on Saturday in Sirte, Libya under the leadership of Salim Ahmed Salim, former secretary general of the Organization of African Unity, and Jan Eliasson, Foreign Minister of Sweden.
(Xinhua)