Eliasson cancels Geneva meeting, announces new Darfur envoy to be appointed

June 2, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Jan Eliasson, the U.N. Secretary General special envoy to Darfur said today here he cancelled a planned meeting to discuss security issues in the strife-torn region of Darfur. He further announced that a new joint mediator will be soon appointed.

The UN envoy, who seems more and more dealing in solo without his African counterpart, told the press in the Sudanese capital today that he had to adjourn Geneva meeting due to the rejection of the two main rebel groups to take part in the meeting.

As it was published by the Sudan Tribune last week, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Abdel-Whaid al-Nur had refused for different reasons to participate in the meeting.

Al-Nur in a meeting held with Eliasson last month in Paris indicated Khartoum has indicated that ceasefire means to force Sudanese government to implement the already signed ceasefire agreements and there is no need for more talks because it would be a waist of time particularly Khartoum used to not honor the signed deal.

While JEM declined the invitation because it does not accept the invitation addressed to a small breakaway faction. The rebel group had always blamed the mediation for involving groups without real presence on the ground in the peace process.

Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir — since the JEM coup of 10 May in the capital — also repeatedly said that his government would not negotiate with a group that fighting for regime change and not for Darfur plight.

Eliasson however expressed his determination to follow the talks on the security issues adding that he opted for a new approach based on bilateral contacts with the warrant parties.

“We regret this very much but we will now continue discussions with the different movements…the method that we will use for the time being will be bilateral contacts,” rather than the scheduled roundtable, he said.

Since a meeting held in Geneva last March with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the mediation adopted the principle of security before peace talks, and abandonated its policy of rebel reunification.

Eliasson underlined the increasing deterioration of the security situation in Darfur and the Chadian dimension in the conflict which become a facture for further instability in the five year war torn region.

“It’s a very negative trend and I am very disturbed…since the end of last year things have gone in the wrong direction,” Eliasson said.

NEW ENVOY

The UN envoy confirmed that a new joint envoy would replace him and Salim Ahmed Salim of the African Union.

Following the rejection of Darfur Peace Agreement by Al-Nur and Ibrahim, the African mediation encouraged the dissident factions from Abuja groups in order to create a large support for the peace deal.

Also following Khartoum agreement to resume talks with the non signatories, Salim was accused of acting to marginalise the main groups that were part in Abuja by involving breakaway factions in the process.

The role of the UN envoy that was imposed by the former UN chief Kofi Annan was to take the lead from the “contested” Salim. But Eliasson for long time followed Salim. Rebel groups, who were discreetly disappointed, dealt with him because he represents the international community.

However, Eliasson said would remain as an adviser of the new joint UN-African Union mediator.

“The Secretary General [Ban Ki-moon], whom I met in Stockholm three days ago, has asked me to follow the issue on an advisory function,” Eliasson said.

According to the UN up to 300,000 people have died and more than 2.2 million have fled their homes since the Darfur conflict broke out in February 2003. But Khartoum government says only less than 10,000 have been killed.

(ST)