Sudanese first VP briefs parliament on European, African tour
KHARTOUM, Mar 6, 2005 (SUNA) — The Council of Ministers, chaired by the President of the Republic, Omer Al-Bashir, has got acquainted with outcome of the recent tour of the First Vice – President, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, to Nigeria, Ethiopia and Brussels.
In his briefing to the Cabinet, Taha said that he met in Abuja, the Nigerian President and Chairman of the African Union, Olosegen Obasanjo, and agreed on the continuity of the African Union to its efforts for keeping security and cease-fire in Darfur as well as its efforts to push ahead the political negotiations between the government and Darfur rebels, besides the task of legal investigation and trial of persons accused in incidents in Darfur.
Taha said that he agreed with President Obasanjo on the importance of the continuity of the joint committee for cease-fire to its work and determining the positions of the parties. He said that they also deliberated about the government plan to collect arms and to enhance the humanitarian situation in Darfur prior to advent of the rainy season, and the plan for return of the refugees and displaced people to their home areas.
Taha referred to the agreement between the government and the African Union on coordination between the government and the legal envoy of the African Union to reach a settlement formula for the trials’ issue.
The First Vice – President also reviewed the outcome of his visit to Addis Ababa and his talks with the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, and Chairman of the African Union’s Commission, Alfa Ommar Konare, on the government efforts to realize security and stability in the country, besides its keenness to consolidate Sudan relations and cooperation with Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, Taha regarded the recent Third International Conference on Federalism in Brussels as an opportunity to reflect the experience of Sudan in the federal government field and the process of implementing the peace agreement between the government and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). He said that the Federalism Conference provided a chance for meeting with several of the participating delegations.
Taha said that the visit to Brussels, which included a Sudanese-European ecomomic forum, was successful and realized its objectives of acquainting the European leaders with implementation of the peace agreement and the developments in Darfur issue.
He also pointed to the appreciation of the Europeans of the improvement in the security situation in Darfur, and affirmed their commitment to help Sudan government achieve peace and stability in the country.