Canada’s foreign minister arrives to Sudan

March 24, 208 (KHARTOUM) — Canadian Foreign Minister arrived on Monday to Khartoum for talks with Sudanese officials, to hold talks on Darfur crisis and the implementation of Sudan peace agreement signed in January 2005.

During the March 25 to 28 trip, Maxime Bernier will meet official from both the Government of National Unity and the Government of Southern Sudan, urging them to address ongoing violence in Darfur, the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and human rights said the foreign ministry.

Bernier who visits Sudan for the first time was received by the foreign minister Deng Alor.

The visiting minister is expected to discuss bilateral relations with his Sudanese counterpart tomorrow while he would visit al-Fasher, the capital of Nort darfur state on Wednesday followed by a visit to Juba to meet Sudanese First Vice President and President of southern Sudan government.

Bernier will meet with representatives from the United Nations and African Union, which has deployed a joint peacekeeping mission to Darfur. It is planned to number 26,000 troops but has been slow to get off the ground.

(ST)