China supports balanced political solution in Darfur – envoy

October 27, 2007 (SIRTE, Libya) — China supports a balanced development of the peacekeeping mission and the political process in Darfur, western Sudan, a Chinese special envoy said here Saturday.

Liu Guijin, China’s special envoy on Darfur issue, made the remarks at the inaugural session of the peace negotiations between the Sudanese government and anti-government movements in the Libyan coastal city of Sirte.

With initial results achieved in Darfur’s peacekeeping mission, it is important to facilitate the political process in the region, Liu said.

He urged the concerned parties in the negotiations to reach a comprehensive peace accord to end a four-year-old conflict in Darfur, which will ensure the peacekeeping mission, reconstruction and economic development in the region.

Main rebel factions in Darfur should take part in the process of political talks and forge a united stance, Liu added.

The Darfur peace talks, which have been deadlocked since a peace agreement was signed between the Sudanese government and a main anti-government group in May 2006, was resumed in Sirte under the co-sponsorship of the United Nations and the African Union.

However, six rebel factions from the war-torn Darfur refused to attend the conference, saying, “the Khartoum government does not have the necessary legitimacy to negotiate.”

(Xinhua)