QNA/Doha
HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani underlined yesterday that the Darfur issue had been one of concern locally, regionally and internationally for the loss of lives and property and the displacement of people caused by the unfortunate conflict.
Addressing the launching of negotiations for comprehensive peace in Darfur, held in the Doha Sheraton Hotel yesterday morning, the Premier and Foreign Minister said that since the beginning Qatar had been keen to find a comprehensive and urgent solution to the conflict in co-operation and co-ordination with all sectors of the international community in order to spare the people and the region further scourge of conflict.
He noted that Qatar had been working in co-ordination with the UN-AU Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur Djibril Bassole and it was still looking for every possible means to reach a comprehensive peace settlement to the conflict to ensure the rights and open the door wide to development and prosperity in Darfur, in particular, and Sudan, in general.
“Our vision for a peaceful settlement in Darfur is based on the principles of unity and negotiations, peace and development, in addition to good-neighborly relations between the two brotherly countries, Chad and Sudan, which have started to improve,” the Premier and Foreign Minister said.
HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al-Thani noted that the peace process in Darfur faced many challenges, the most important of which were the divisions between movements and persuading them to unite their negotiating position, the multiple platforms and the attempts to divert efforts, as well as the absence of an effective agreement for a ceasefire in order to provide protection for civilians.
Yet, considering what was achieved, there are positive signs to reach a comprehensive and just peace in Darfur. There is an appropriate environment for a just and comprehensive peace in Darfur more than ever, he added.
The mission to resolve the conflict and establish peace in Darfur is in the first place a challenge for the Sudanese people before being a challenge for the international community, the Premier noted.
He underlined that Qatar relied heavily on the participation of civil society in the ongoing peace process, reiterating that peace cannot be achieved in Darfur without this participation.
He also underlined that peace was the responsibility of Sudanese people, noting that despite the difficult conditions and the great challenges the Sudanese people were able to achieve peace due to their capabilities and the fraternity feature inherited from the ancestors that will no doubt help create the appropriate conditions for the talks and confidence-building and set up a road map for meaningful negotiations leading to a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace.
The Premier said that any consultative meetings organised by the civil society in the framework of the ongoing peace process would not be a substitute for the movements, but a complementary and supportive of the mediation efforts in order to reach a comprehensive solution to the conflict.
HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim said that during the last few days, Qatar held discussions with Bassole and a number of movements and listened to their visions and perceptions and their commitment to the peaceful resolution and to Doha as the place of negotiation, noting that the mediation would take those visions in consideration.
Qatar’s role hailed
Sudanese Minister of State and Head of the Sudanese government delegation to Darfur’s Conference in Doha Amin Hassan Omar yesterday hailed Qatar’s role in dealing with Darfur’s file.
In a press statement, Amin thanked Qatar for its initiative to host Darfur discussions which form “a crucial step towards achieving peace in Darfur, despite thorny issues facing it”, he said.
He added, “the Sudan’s government would respond positively to all calls for peace in Darfur, including development, services, improving humanitarian situation and security” he said.
Amin hailed the Civil Society Representatives who help in solving thorny issues and support solutions.
He assured an improvement in Darfur’s humanitarian situation. |
