Russian envoy, JEM leader discuss Darfur peace process

October 21, 2009 (PARIS) — The Russian envoy to Sudan held talks today with the leader of Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in the Chadian capital where the two parties discussed Darfur peace process and democratic transition in Sudan.

In his first ever meeting with a rebel group, Mikhail Margelov, held talks on Wednesday with JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim in Ndjamena. The meeting took place two weeks after an international workshop in Moscow where Sudan’s special envoys renewed their support to the Doha peace process.

Sudanese government and JEM signed a goodwill agreement in Doha last February but the talks stalled as the rebel group asks the government to implement two clauses in the deal related to the release of POWs and the improvement of humanitarian situation.

During the meeting, Margelov stressed on the need to resume negotiations with the Sudanese government in the Qatari capital in order to reach a negotiated settlement to the six-year conflict.

However, Ibrahim who renewed his commitment to the peace process said they want a “serious peace process where the stakeholders commit themselves to enforce what they agree” said Ahmed Hussein Adam, the spokesperson of the rebel movement.

The rebel leader further pointed out that a successful peace process implies to avoid chaos and to engage the main actors as well as to not involve fictive players in the process, Ahmed said.

JEM rebels further stressed they are in constant contact with the Joint Mediator Djibril Bassole and the Qatari officials in order to reach “a real strategy to achieve peace” in Darfur, he further added.

Appointed in December 2008 by the President Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian special envoy who speaks fluency Arabic language visited Darfur where more than 300 thousands are killed to assess the humanitarian situation. His appointment signals the desire of the Russian government to play a greater role in Sudan which has good economic and military ties with Moscow.

Ahmed said they informed Margelov they welcome Russia’s role in Sudan and they are not opposed to its interests in Sudan. However the rebels said that Moscow’s role could be greater if it deal equally with all the stakeholders.

The rebels also urged the Russian government to exert pressures on the Sudanese government in order to reach a just peace.

(ST)