STATEMENT: Darfur Mediation submits new proposals on Pending issues

Statement by the Mediation

H.E. Mr. Ahmed Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, and H.E. Mr. Djbrill Bassolé, the AU/UN Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur, issued the following statement :-

1. Today Tuesday 22 February 2011, the Mediation presented to the Parties draft proposals on issues that were identified as the concerns that need to be addressed in a comprehensive manner in order to achieve an all inclusive resolution of the Darfur crisis, and lay the foundation for reconciliation, social peace and economic development. These issues were treated under 6 clusters as follows: Power Sharing; Wealth Sharing; Compensation and Return of IDPs and Refugees; Justice and Reconciliation; Permanent Ceasefire and Security Arrangements; and Human Rights.

2. The period from February 2009 and March 2010 witnessed the signing of a number of preliminary agreements that have had their evident impact represented in confidence-building and laying of the solid basis for negotiations and consultations conducted with all Parties. Thus, the following agreements were singed :the Goodwill and Confidence Building Agreement between GoS and JEM on 17 February 2009; and the Framework Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in Darfur between GoS and JEM on 23 February 2010, as well as the Framework Agreement and Ceasefire Agreement between GoS and LJM on
18 March 2010 and the direct talks between GoS and LJM from June to December 2010 .

3. Since November 2008 when the Mediation started consultations in Doha, substantive progress and a number of concrete achievements have been made. These include the outcomes of the Darfur civil society conferences that provided the opportunity for the representatives of civil society groups, including IDPs and refugees, to articulate their positions on all the above issues. This has ensured that their views and positions are incorporated in the negotiation framework.

4. The Mediation also undertook wide-range consultations in Darfur, Khartoum, Juba, Abeche and Ndjamena with stakeholders, including political leaders, civil society representatives, representatives of IDPs and refugees, elected Members of Parliament as well as Government officials and partners.

5. Guided by its ultimate objective of concluding the peace process with an agreement signed by all the belligerent parties; endorsed by all the people of Darfur, including those who have been directly affected by the conflict; and accepted by the international partners; the Mediation encourages all Parties to engage seriously with these proposed texts as
a framework for peace, and conduct direct consultations and talks amongst themselves with a view to achieving a consensus on the final document by the end of this month. This shall be a prelude to the preliminary signature of the document and its endorsement by a broad all stakeholders conference in Doha in order to reach a final and comprehensive peace agreement for the conflict in the nearest future.

6. The Mediation remains engaged in the collective efforts by the African Union, the League of Arab States, the United Nations, and other partners to help the Parties achieve a comprehensive settlement of the conflict, through the Doha peace process which continues to enjoy the support, and the encouragement of the international community.

Doha, 22 February 2011.