Troika delegation, UNAMID held talks on Darfur issue

May 18, 2009 (EL FASHER) – The Darfur hybrid peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) today briefed the leaders of the African Union, the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference on the latest political, security, humanitarian and Mission deployment issues during a joint visit by the three leaders to North Darfur.

After holding talks yesterday with the Sudanese officials in Khartoum on the peace process, the International Criminal Court and the Sudan-Chad tension, the delegation visited Darfur today to meet the local officials, UNAMID and to inspect the humanitarian situation as well as visiting displaced camps.

AU Commission Chairperson, Mr. Jean Ping; Arab League Secretary-General, Mr. Amr Moussa; and OIC Secretary-General, Dr. Ekmeleddin ?hsano?lu; were received by UNAMID Joint Special Representative, Mr. Rodolphe Adada, at the Mission’s headquarters in El-Fasher today.

Mr. Adada led the UNAMID briefing, which focused on both the Mission’s achievements so far and its most pressing challenges in the months ahead, the UNAMID spokesperson, Nourredine Mezni said in a statement received by email.

In their separate addresses to the meeting, Mr. Ping, Mr. Moussa and Mr. ?hsano?lu each commended the efforts of UNAMID and pledged to work more closely with the Mission to try to achieve greater peace, security, justice and reconciliation across Darfur.

While in El-Fasher, the joint delegation visited the nearby Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), where they were briefed by umdas (traditional leaders) and representatives of women and youth. They also attended a briefing and reception at the offices of the Governor of North Darfur state.

A Sudanese Government delegation, led by the General Commissioner for Humanitarian Assistance, Mr. Hassabo Mohamed Abdel Rahman, accompanied the visiting joint delegation on its one-day visit to Darfur.

(ST)