Speaker of the Sudanese parliament holds talks with the European parliament

KHARTOUM, Sept 4, 2004 (SUNA) — Speaker of the National Assembly Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Tahir met Saturday the delegation of the European Parliament, who is currently on a visit to the country to get acquaint with the situations in Darfur states.

Al-Tahir briefed the delegation on the National Assembly’s supervisory and legislative role. Meanwhile, a session of talks between the two sides discussed the situations in Darfur states and the government’s efforts to resolve the issue.

There is a security and humanitarian problem in Darfur and the government is working to solve it, the two sides underscored.

The European Parliament expressed concern with the humanitarian issues, realization of security in Darfur and disarmament of the militias besides the efforts for political settlement of the issue.

The Sudanese side referred to the arrangements made and the efforts exerted to provide security in Darfur, facilitate flow of humanitarian aid to the needy and the committee set up by the President of the Republic to investigate allegations on human rights violations.

Al-Tahir called on the international community to extend humanitarian aid to overcome the effects of the problem, stressing the importance of the international cooperation with Sudan instead of pressures.

He further called for setting up a joint committee comprising the National Assembly and the European Parliament to follow up the various issues of mutual concern in order to conduct discussion on them and determine the points of agreement and disagreement.

Another sitting will be held after the return of the visiting European Parliament’s delegation from Darfur.