Sudan 2nd VP Taha meets with Mbeki

March 29, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese 2nd Vice President Ali Osman Taha, today received the former South African president and Chairman of the AU High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) Thabo Mbeki and discussed a range of issues including the recent Darfur reconstruction conference held in Cairo.

Mbeki was quoted by Sudan state media as telling reporters afterwards said that his meeting with Taha was “fruitful and constructive,” noting that he briefed the 2nd VP on the outcome of the International Donors Conference on Support for Rehabilitation and development in Darfur.

The AUHIP chair said that the conference was successful and that significant funds were committed by the donors “in support of peace, development and rehabilitation in Darfur”. He pledged to follow up fulfillment of the donors to their financial commitments.

The conference raised less than half the targeted $2 billion for development in Sudan’s violent western region after several countries refrained from pledging over security worries.

Mbeki further said that he also briefed Taha on his visit to the headquarters of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, adding that he urged the European governments to work with Khartoum for realizing peace and development in Darfur.

During the conference Mbeki representing the African Union, noted Sudan faces presidential elections next month and a referendum on Southern Sudan’s independence next year.

“We cannot fail to assist Sudan during her hour of need,” he said. “This is because such failure, if it were allowed to occur, would have serious negative consequences for generations to come.”

AUHIP was tasked with implementing all aspects of the AUPD recommendations and assist the Sudanese parties in the implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and other related processes, as part of the democratic transformation of Sudan.

(ST)