Sudan says Egypt to begin new push for peace in Darfur

April 10, 2009 (CAIRO) – Egypt will step up its efforts in trying to convince various Darfur rebel groups to join the peace talks, a Sudanese official said today.

The Sudanese state minister for foreign affairs Ali Karti speaking to reporters at the conclusion of his visit to Cairo said that he held meetings with Egyptian spy chief Omer Suleiman to discuss details of the new initiative.

However Karti did not say whether Cairo is seeking to push Darfur rebels to join the already ongoing talks in Qatar or whether new venues will be proposed.

Last month the Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Aboul-Gheit revealed that his government proposed an international conference that brings key world and regional players to agree on a common vision to tackle issues facing Sudan particularly the Darfur crisis “in its security, political and humanitarian” aspects.

But it was Karti himself who brushed aside the Egyptian suggestion saying it will “internationalize” the Darfur crisis.

“If there are certain parties that want to internationalize this issue Sudan will not accept it” Karti told the Qatar based Al-Jazeera television in March.

Egypt came up with the idea of the conference in the wake of International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.

The Sudanese diplomat said he discussed with Suleiman the Egyptian movement plan in the coming period in order to realize stability in the war ravaged region of Darfur.

Furthermore he said that Egypt will attempt to bring Chad to join the peace imitative.

Egypt had appeared to be in silent competition with the Arab Gulf State of Qatar over leading efforts to resolve the Darfur crisis.

Earlier this year the Qatari foreign minister Hamad bin Jasim Al-Thani said that competition over roles among Arab countries is slowing down Darfur peace efforts.

In February the Sudanese government and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) signed an agreement of good intentions following one week of meeting in the Qatari capital, pledging to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the six-year conflict.

But talks appeared to have collapsed after JEM refused to return to the negotiation table saying Sudan expulsion of aid groups from Darfur is a breach of the Doha agreement.

Karti said he discussed with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa the Darfur humanitarian situation.

Moussa announced this week that he is appointing a humanitarian coordinator to follow up on Arab commitments towards sending to Darfur and filling any gaps left by the expulsion.

Sudan has called on Arab and Islamic countries to deploy its aid groups to Darfur and replace the relief organizations that were ejected.

Sudan’s decision has caused international outcry. The UN Security Council (UNSC) urged Sudan in a non-binding statement to reconsider its decision.

UN experts estimate some 300,000 people have died and 2.5 million driven from their homes. Sudan blames the Western media for exaggerating the conflict and puts the death toll at 10,000.

(ST)