Darfur peace mediators, regional partners to meet in Egypt

December 2, 2007 (KHARTOUM) – Darfur peace envoys will meet the regional partners in the on going political process to end the 4 1/2 years conflict next week in Egypt.

The African Union and United Nations Special Envoys for Darfur, Salim Ahmed Salim and Jan Eliasson, will meet Regional Partners of the Darfur Peace Process: Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, and Libya, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Tuesday 4 December 2007.

The Joint Mediation Team met in Asmara on November 14 with the regional partners but, the meeting just maintained Libya as a venue of the peace talks.

The main rebel groups boycotted the talks demanding to be involved in the consultations and preparations they also objected the participation of the small factions and requested to transfer the talks to another country.

“The purpose of the meeting is to brief the Partners on the latest developments, to undertake a joint appraisal of the second phase of the Sirte Process, and to agree on a common approach on the way forward.” The mediation said in a press statement.

(ST)