Arab countries to give Sudan a chance do resolve Darfur crisis

CAIRO, Aug 06, 2004 (MENA) — An Arab foreign ministers meeting on Sunday, called for by Egypt, aims to forge one Arab stance supporting the Sudanese government’s efforts to end the tragic situation in the restive provinces of Darfur, said Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu-al-Ghayt.

In statements to reporters on Friday, Abu-al-Ghayt said the aim of the meeting is to give Sudan a chance to deal positively with the relevant UN resolution within a reasonable timeframe and pave the way for negotiations with the rebels to end the crisis and restore peace to the three provinces.

Abu-al-Ghayt said the meeting involves two major elements in the process, namely African Union Commissioner Alpha Oumar Konare, and the UN Secretary- General’s envoy to Sudan, a Dutch, which gives the issue an Afro-European perspective in addition to an international one in the form of the UN.

The meeting will have one item on its agenda, that is the deteriorating situation in Darfur and Sudan’s request to post Arab countries on the dimensions of this problem, added Abu-al-Ghayt.