US envoy, Qatari officials discuss Darfur peace process
April 28, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — US special envoy to Sudan J. Scott Gration met today in Doha with the Qatari Prime Minister to discuss a peace process brokered by the AU-UN mediator and the Qatari government to end the Darfur conflict.
Earlier this month, Gration, who was appointed last March, was in Sudan where he held talks with the Sudanese officials on the Darfur peace process and visited the troubled western Sudan region.
Meeting Tuesday with Sheik Hamad bin Jassem Al Thani, the US envoy discussed the efforts exerted by his country to reach a peace agreement between the warring parties. He also held talks with state minister for foreign affairs Ahmed Bin-Abdullah Al-Mahmoud on the same issue.
Gration, during his first trip to Khartoum, appeared to have succeeded in reassuring the Sudanese government with a conciliatory message saying that he wants to work on improving the thorny relations between the two countries.
He said that he came “with my hands open” and hoped that Sudan’s government would respond “with a hand of friendship,” saying that “like all my American colleagues, Ana Ahib Sudan,” or “I love Sudan.”
Gration two weeks ago also urged the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to resume the peace process. Before his trip to Doha, he had requested the JEM to not suspend indefinitely their participation in the peace talks.
The rebel movement has said it is willing to resume the peace talks after the expulsion of 13 foreign aid groups accused by Khartoum of cooperation with the International Criminal Court.
JEM agreed to meet with mediators to discuss the non-implementation of a goodwill deal and its violation by the Sudanese government. However, when a rebel delegation traveled to Doha last week they had to leave the country immediately.
Some five smaller rebel factions backed by the Libyan government are in Doha to discuss with Qatari officials their inclusion in the peace process. These factions include the United Revolutionary Forces led by Bahar Idriss Abu Garda who is a JEM dissident.
Gration, who intends to back the peace process, will have to work closely with the mediation team to find the best ways to bring the different stakeholders to the negotiating table.
(ST)