Sudan, AL discuss implementation of Arab pledges to Darfur

March 16, 2008 (CAIRO) – The Arab League held a meeting here on Sunday with Sudan to honor Arab pledges to develop and to help improve the humanitarian conditions in Darfur.

Today meeting is the first of the follow-up mechanism set to implement the outcome of Arab League Conference on humanitarian situation in Darfur held in October 2007 in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.

Abdelrahman Musa Abakar, the state minister at the Ministry of cabinet affairs, told press following the meeting that some Arab countries, including Egypt, Tunisia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, have started to honor their commitments or send funds to Darfur.

He further said that they presented a number of projects to the Arab donors adding that they proposed the implementation of these projects by national firms from the fundraisers.

AL envoy to Sudan Salah Halima said that Arab countries have the interest to improve Darfur conditions and some 250 million U.S. dollars has been collected to help the Sudanese in Darfur.

Halima further said that the meeting discussed the proposed projects and ways to implement it. He underlined that the best way to boost peace in Darfur is to implement development projects in the region.

The meeting discussed urgent development projects in Sudan, such as water, education and health, and recommended to open an Arab League office in Khartoum to follow up the humanitarian situation in Darfur.

They also decided to send a high-level delegation grouping Sudanese and Arab League officials to Arab countries to discuss ways of carrying out financial pledges to Sudan.

The second meeting of the mechanism is expected to be held next month in Khartoum.

(ST)