China, Saudi Arabia and Qatar can bring peace to Darfur – ex- US envoy

January 25, 2008 (DOHA) — Former US former envoy for Darfur has urged China, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to push Darfur rebels and the Sudanese government to hold peace talks to end the five year conflict, the Gulf Times reported today.

Natsios, who led the efforts of US to resolve ‘one of the worst humanitarian crises’ from 2006 to December 2007, was the keynote speaker at the opening session of the third annual Model United Nations Conference (MUN) in Doha, Qatar yesterday.

The former envoy said only the countries with considerable influence, such as China, Saudi Arabia and Qatar could effectively bring all parties in Darfur to get to talk.
“The pre-requisite though is the willingness of the involved parties though, since in a civil war, you got to have parties ready to negotiate first,” he underlined.

Natsios stated that international actors can only encourage the actors to end the conflict.

“We in the US or the United Nations cannot force any one. We can only encourage,” added Natsios, who advised the US president and the US secretary of state on ending the conflict in Darfur and bringing stability to all of Sudan.

“Many of the Arab states, Egypt and Jordan are also sending troops to Darfur to help some 2.5mn displaced people, and you can grow up to become part of it as well,” said the diplomacy veteran, who is a professor on the Practice of Diplomacy and Advisor of International Development at the Georgetown University, Washington DC.

From 2001 to 2005, he was administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAid), and has also served as Special Coordinator for International Disaster Assitance and Special Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sudan. Natsios has also worked for over 18 years with the UN in the global relief efforts.

(ST)