Sudan says not concerned with absence of Western envoys from El-Fasher meeting
July 5, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government today downplayed the significance of absence by the special envoys from U.S., U.K. and France from the meeting held today in North Darfur capital city of El-Fasher to assess the political, humanitarian and security situation.
The Sudanese official in charge of the Darfur dossier Ghazi Salah Al-Deen told reporters that he does not wish to comment on their absence saying “it is up to them” noting that they were the ones who agreed to the time and place of the meeting.
He further said that he has no knowledge of “administrative and logistical” difficulties preventing their attendance.
Among the attendees at the summit were the Chinese envoy to Africa Liu Guijin, Russian envoy to Sudan Mikhail Margelov, joint United Nations and African Union mediator Dijibril Bassole along with officials from the Arab League and Europe.
On Sunday, a source close to the meetings that start on Monday attributed U.S. special envoy Scott Gration’s absence to “disagreements” between the head of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) Ibrahim Gambari whose headquarters are in El-Fasher.
It is not clear if U.K. and French envoys followed Gration’s suit for the same reasons.
Sudan official news agency (SUNA) quoted Arab League ambassador to Sudan Salah Halima as saying that there was agreement among all participants that the Doha forum for negotiations should be the only one amid reports that Libya wants to move the talks to Tripoli in a position similar to that of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) which boycotted the negotiations.
Halima expressed optimism that the July 15th date to conclude the negotiations could be met but said that this could be further extended if needed.
A statement issued by the participants stressed that “it was imperative to reach a lasting solution to the conflict in Darfur before the end of the year, so that peace can take hold throughout Sudan ahead of the crucial referendum on the self?determination of South Sudan in January 2011”.
“All efforts must be made to convince all Movements to come to the negotiation table without delay”.
JEM froze its participation in the Doha peace talks accusing Khartoum of breaching a cessation of hostilities agreement. The rebel group also accused the host country of favoring the Sudanese government.
The resolution of the conference called also on the government of Sudan to play the leading role to improve security and bring sustainable development to Darfur, noting that its role “cannot be replaced by external actors”.
The spokesperson for JEM Ahmed Hussein criticized today’s meeting saying that Khartoum is using it as a “public relations cover for continuing violence against Darfur civilians”.
Hussein also slammed Gambari and called on the UN Secretary General to evaluate his performance on the job saying that he has failed fulfill his mandate or expose government attacks on civilians. The JEM official said that Gambari is instead focusing on competing with the joint mediator Dijibril Bassole to take ownership of the political process.
He also hailed the countries which boycotted the meeting and accused China and Russia of being unable to maintain same proximity with all parties to the Darfur conflict.
The Darfur rebel leader Abdel Wahid Al-Nur condemned the summit saying it is held at the headquarters where Khartoum planned genocide against the people of Darfur.
The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) chief said that there is no point of the gathering describing the international community as being divided on how to resolve the crisis in the region because each is looking for his own interest “with a regime that lacks credibility”.
“The meetings will contribute nothing to alleviate the sufferings of Darfuris,” Al-Nur said.
(ST)
Truth_Seeker
Sudan says not concerned with absence of Western envoys from El-Fasher meeting
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)
Omer Hassan Omer
Sudan says not concerned with absence of Western envoys from El-Fasher meeting
As far as the major international community concerned about Darfur conflict other’s participation on this meeting is for the purposes of supporting the government of Sudan to continuous to increase suffering for Darfruian. The situation in Darfur is getting wares more than before or beginning of conflict and the Darfurain are continuously suffering IDP, host community and Rebel fighters themselves due to shortage of food assistances and other base means of life for instance water in some cities, health care, education apart from deterioration of security situation after latest escalation of fighting between government forces and JEM that left hundreds of casualties civilians and military. The situation drove thousands of innocent civilians to displace to IDP camps. The humanitarian agencies have been restricted to reach to most effected people for service provision in addition they are facing great challenges to transfer their assistances to remote areas. We know the participation of Chinese government is equal nothing as its past experience confirmed that most weapons which used in the fighting have provided by them particularly on government side.
Omer Hassan Omer
Sudan says not concerned with absence of Western envoys from El-Fasher meeting
As far as the major international community concerned about Darfur conflict other’s participation on this meeting is for the purposes of supporting the government of Sudan to continuous to increase suffering for Darfruian. The situation in Darfur is getting wares more than before or beginning of conflict and the Darfurain are continuously suffering IDP, host community and Rebel fighters themselves due to shortage of food assistances and other base means of life for instance water in some cities, health care, education apart from deterioration of security situation after latest escalation of fighting between government forces and JEM that left hundreds of casualties civilians and military. The situation drove thousands of innocent civilians to displace to IDP camps. The humanitarian agencies have been restricted to reach to most effected people for service provision in addition they are facing great challenges to transfer their assistances to remote areas. We know the participation of Chinese government is equal nothing as its past experience confirmed that most weapons which used in the fighting have provided by them particularly on government side.
Sudan virus
Sudan says not concerned with absence of Western envoys from El-Fasher meeting
The Arab world will continue their indirect undermining/ridiculing of the African leadership for life, if they still insisted of believing in the in human strategies.
Having suffered (as a southern)since independent from the atrocities of the Arabs against the indigenous(black) African,worries me a lot when/if i see the Arabs down rights of other suppressed people like the Darfurians.
African leaders accept some things because they are powerless or like Russia and China lobby for personnel benefit at the expenses of the suffering people.
They African leaders still consider Arabs and or Russia and China as developing countries as such can accept any trick played against their fellow true African societies. Let me tell you Russia and China are already in developed countries(members of G8)joined Britain,France,US and Germany,.Hence Russia and China want take this opportunity suppress the African and exploit their resources as they look on(considering the old status) .
No smoke with out fire.Better escape before the fire explode.
telfajbago
Sudan says not concerned with absence of Western envoys from El-Fasher meeting
“All efforts must be made to convince all Movements to come to the negotiation table without delay”. Halima or is it Fatouma? you are speaking as if a general giving orders to his soldiers are you mad.