Russian envoy to visit Sudan on Thursday

December 2, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Russian special envoy to Sudan, Mikhail Margelov, will start on Thursday a six-day visit to Sudan at the head of a delegation of businessmen, media and press.

Muawiya Osman Khalid spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said the visit comes in continuation of a previous visit last February, but also after the international workshop, held in Moscow last october to find solutions to Darfur crisis.

The Russian envoy will hold talks with a number of state officials on ways to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries. He also will discuss latest developments on Darfur issue and the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement

The envoy is expected to pay a visit to North Darfur state, where he will meet the governor and the acting Joint Special Representative of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) as well as visit some camps of the displaced persons.

Further, Margelov will visit South Kordofan state and Southern Sudan where he will meet with officials from the semi-autonomous government in Juba.

The Russian envoy will meet President Omer Al-Bashir in Khartoum and First Vice-President Salva Kiir Mayadrit in Juba. He will also meet with Dr. Nafie Ali Nafie, Assistant to the President, Dr. Ghazi Salah Al-Deen Adviser to the President, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Tahir, Speaker of the National Assembly and Mr. Deng Alor, Minister of Foreign Affairs, next to his meetings with officials from UNMIS and UNAMID.

On October 21, The Russian envoy met for the first time the leadership of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement during a visit to the Chadian capital Ndjamena.

In his talks with the rebel movement, he 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.

(ST)