Egypt to organize Islamic conference on Darfur development

November 25, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Egypt will organize a meeting for the Islamic Conference Organization (OIC) countries in order to discuss ways to participate in the development and rehabilitation efforts undertaken in Darfur region.

“The meeting tends to review how the Islamic countries can contribute to the development and rehabilitation process in Darfur. A preparatory meeting will be held in Cairo soon, to be followed by an OIC ministerial meeting,” Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Abul Gheit told a press conference following a meeting with Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir in Khartoum on Wednesday.

The visiting minister stressed that the conference should discuss infrastructure and development plans prepared by the Sudanese government to see how they can fund it.

The minister said Egypt would continue to its efforts to reunite the rebel groups to boost efforts by African Union – United Nations mediation to end the six year conflict in western Sudan.

Aboul Gheit and the head of Egyptian intelligence Omer Suleiman were in Khartoum for talks with the Sudanese president on the tension in bilateral ties after criticism by Egyptian media to the organization of Egypt-Algeria qualifying playoff match to the 2010 World Cup finals.

“The Sudanese-Egyptian ties are deeply-rooted and cannot be affected by a football match. We briefed the Egyptian delegation on measures adopted by the Sudanese government to organize and secure the match between Egypt and Algeria,” he said.

(ST)