Russian envoy discuss Darfur with the Ethiopian prime minister
February 26, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zinawi today held talks on Darfur peace efforts with the visiting Russian special envoy to Sudan Mikhail Margelov.
During a visit to Khartoum last January, Margelov said his government is proposing an international conference on Darfur to be held in Moscow later this year. He further said that his country is “actively engaged on Sudan issues and wants to play an active role in UN Security Council (UNSC), Africa and in world affairs”
The two sides discussed ways to help efforts to bring peace in Darfur, an official of the Ethiopian foreign ministry said.
Zenawi stressed during the meeting that Russia which a permanent member of the UN Security Council could play critical role to settle durably the Sudanese crisis, according to the official ENA.
During his visit to Sudan the Russian envoy visited Darfur and Juba, the capital of southern Sudan.
Russia and Sudan has stronger military relations than economic ones with the former selling weapons including fighter jets.
With regard to the move of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President Omer Al-Bashir, Margelov said that stance would take shape after holding consultations next month with the United States and Western Europe.
Russia has voted in favor of resolution 1593 referring the Darfur crisis to the ICC. However it hinted that it is willing to support a deferral under Article 16 of the ICC Statute but did not table a resolution.
(ST)