Qatar absent from Quartet consultative meeting on Sudan
August 23, 2009 (CAIRO) — The United States, Sudan Egypt and Libya held a previously unannounced meeting in Cairo today discussing coordinating efforts on the peace process in Darfur as well as North-South.
A notable absence from the mini-summit was Qatar which is current venue for talks between Khartoum and Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
Egypt has stepped up efforts in recent months trying to play a role in the Darfur peace process through inviting several rebel factions in a bid to unite them without involving Qatar.
Both countries are believed to be in silent competition particularly on the part of Egypt which is dissatisfied with being bypassed on the Darfur dossier.
Last month Aboul-Gheit told the Special Envoy on African Affairs Liu Guijin that talks hosted by “other parties”, in likely reference to Qatar, have been unsuccessful due to the lack of comprehension with the “dynamics” of situation in Sudan and complex tribal relations.
The spokesman of the Egyptian Foreign Minister Hossam Zaki, said that the summit was held after extensive talks between the four parties with the aim to prop up the peace and stability in Sudan.
Zaki said that the meeting provided opportunity “to discuss progress of the talks between the different Sudanese parties and all the files for realizing peace and stability in Sudan, including the file of Darfur issue and the relation between the north and the south”.
He said that the participants discussed ways to support the communications being conducted in order to provide appropriate atmosphere for reaching a comprehensive and lasting political solution for Darfur issue and paving the way for normalization of the relations between Sudan and Chad.
Gration has returned from Addis Ababa where he attended a meeting seeking to unite factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) including dissenting commanders from the legacy movement headed by Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur.
The US official expressed gratitude towards Egypt and Libya saying his country is “very proud to be partners with the Libyans”.
“Egypt has played such an important role in Sudan and we continue to look for the leadership and perspectives and input from our friends here in Egypt, he was quoted by Agence France Presse.
The US envoy also met with the Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa.
(ST)
Kur
Qatar absent from Quartet consultative meeting on Sudan
Neither Egypt nor Qatar can bring peace to Darfur. The only thing that will bring peace to Darfur is sending Bashir to The Hague to explain what happened to the women and children of Darfur under his watch. You can’t make peace with criminals because they do not want peace. They want to keep people in darkness so that their dirty acts are not discovered. So Mr Cration make sure that justice is done now not tomorrow.
Kur
K Bambo
Qatar absent from Quartet consultative meeting on Sudan
How can South-North peace be discussed in a meeting without the South being represented? SPLM and Southern people should carefully watch and monitor this American General who has become Sudan’s foreigner minister.
Ken
jalabi
Qatar absent from Quartet consultative meeting on Sudan
Not only Qatar was absence but our foreign minister Mr. Deng Alor was absence too!! he is the most failure foreign minister in Sudan history, how comes Egyptian foreign minister and Lybian foreign minister were there but our foreign minister not there in a very important meeting! no surprise since Deng Alor represents the SPLM foreign minister not Sudan foreign minister and for that reason he has one eye, one ear, one way direction, very poor in political views and lack of charismatic and leadership abilities, we missed you Dr. Lam Akol who is true Sudanese leader.