France supports Darfur peace talks – envoy
February 10, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — France has reaffirmed its support to the ongoing efforts to reach a political solution for the six-year conflict in western Sudan region of Darfur, the spokesperson of the foreign ministry said today.
The minister of foreign affairs, Deng Alor, received in his office today the new French Ambassador to Sudan, Patrick Nicoloso who expressed hope that Doha process be crowned with success and achieves lasting peace in the war-torn region.
Since last September France announced its support for the Qatari mediation and conducted a series of contact with JEM and SLM rebels to engage talks with the Sudanese government. However, Sudan used to criticize France over the rejection of SLM leader Abdel Wahid Al-Nur to take part in the process.
The Paris based rebel leader asked Khartoum to disarm its militias and to stop violence on the ground as well as to work for the return of the IDPs and refugees to their homeland before the talks.
The meeting also dealt with the latest political developments in the country particularly the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) said Ali Sadiq the spokesperson of the foreign ministry.
Ambassador Nicoloso presented his credentials to President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir last month after the departure of the French ambassador, Christine Robichon, who left Khartoum at the end of December 2008.
(ST)