Qatari Emir Sudanese President discuss Darfur peace and Chad

February 21, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Emir of Qatar, who paid a one day-visit to Khartoum today, discussed with Sudanese President efforts by his country to realize peace in the troubled Darfur region and the Sudanese –Chadian relations.

The Sudanese government and rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) signed an agreement of goodwill and confidence building brokered by the Qatari government and the joint mediator to create conducive environment before peace talks.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani discussed on Saturday with the President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir the implementation of the goodwill deal and pushed Khartoum to announce the release of 24 rebels. Also they talked about the relations with Chad that Sudan accuses of bolstering the rebels.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim Al Thani told reporters after the meeting that the talks touched on the agreement signed in Doha recently and studied the follow-up steps, because there is “a long way” to cross.

Regarding the inclusion of the other rebel groups, Al-Thani said there were “contacts and positive answers on this subject,” adding efforts will continue in the coming days.” “You will see some action from the neighboring countries in this direction,” he said.

Last Thursday the spokesperson of the French foreign ministry Eric Chevallier reaffirmed the support of his country to the Doha process and said “We are continuing our efforts to ensure that all the major stakeholders, including the movement led by Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur, are involved in the search for peace.”

Sudanese army said yesterday they had fought JEM fighters in North Darfur and killed 17 rebels despite the Doha agreement which does not include a ceasefire deal. The army also accused the neighboring Chad of send supplies and support to the rebels.

For his part, the Sudanese state minister for foreign affairs Ali Karti said the talks dealt with the improvement of the Chadian-Sudanese relations. He further said that the Emir of Qatar, stressed his country’s commitment to work to ameliorate relations between the Sudan and Chad.

He also added that the Qatari Emir will pay a visit to Chad and Libya soon.

The two head of states held a telephone conversation with the Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi who is also the current chairman of the African Union and a close ally to the Chadian President Idriss Deby.

Ali Karti said the Qatari Emir also discussed the issue of the International Criminal Court, adding that he pledged to “hold contacts with various parties to ensure that court proceedings would not affect the peace that has now begun in Doha.”

The ICC pre-trial chamber is expected to issue a decision soon on charges made last year by prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo against President Al-Bashir that include three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder.

JEM rebels said peace process should not be associated with the ICC proceedings on Darfur crimes. They warned they would stop the political process if the peace talks were used as pretext to defer the indictment of the Sudanese president.

(ST)