Finnish envoy visits Sudan for talks on Darfur and CPA

January 27, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The newly appointed Finnish Special Envoy for Horn of Africa and Sudan will begin a three- day visit to Khartoum for talks on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and Darfur peace process.

During his visit to the country from Thursday to Saturday Pekka Haavisto, who was the former EU special representative to Sudan will have meetings in the Sudanese Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and will meet also representatives of SPLM.

He is also expected to meet the joint AU-UN Chief Mediator for Darfur, Djibril Bassole, as well as with SRSG Ashraf Qazi in UNMIS. Haavisto will also discuss the progress of the implementation of the CPA with Derek Plumbly the Chairman of the Assessment and Evaluation Commission.

Finnish envoy further will meet representatives of the diplomatic community and non-governmental organizations, during his visit in Khartoum.

Haavisto’s mandate as Special Envoy covers the areas of Sudan and the Horn of Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. He will handle his tasks alongside his work as MP.

Before his arrival to Khartoum, Haavisto has had consultations in Asmara and Cairo, and from Khartoum he will continue to the African Union summit in Addis Ababa.

Haavisto is former Minister for Environment and Development Cooperation, and he is Member of the Finnish Parliament. He worked as the European Union Special Representative for Sudan 2005-2007, when he took part in the Abuja peace process.

(ST)