Direct peace talks between the Sudanese government and Darfur rebel groups are expected to start in Doha in two weeks, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Mahmoud said yesterday.
Qatar was “determined to bring sustainable and just peace to the warn-torn region”, al-Mahmoud told reporters on the sidelines of a four-day meeting of representatives of Darfur non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which ended yesterday.
He said the Darfur armed movements, which were in Doha last week, asked for a few days to “unify their leadership” before they return to Doha to resume peace talks with the government.
“We would like to reach a permanent solution as soon as possible. Time is very important for the peace process momentum. Some groups asked for a 10-day period and others two weeks before they return to Doha,” al-Mahmoud said.
The minister pledged that Qatar would continue its efforts until a deal for a just and permanent peace was achieved.
“We would even support the people of the region until they achieve development,” he added.
Meanwhile, the NGO representatives called on the Sudanese government and the region’s armed groups to end hostilities and immediately start peace talks in Doha.
“We appeal to both the government and the movements to work seriously with the international community and peace mediators to achieve peace and stability in Darfur,” a final communiqué issued by the meeting said.
The delegates stressed that they supported a united Sudan, saying that the dispute, which erupted in 2003, would only be solved through negotiations between the warring parties.
“The Darfur dispute is a political issue with social and economic dimensions, and can only be solved via serious dialogue,” the communiqué said.
UN/African Union mediator Djibril Bassole said the NGO representatives would attend a joint meeting with the leaders of the armed groups before the end of next month.
The mediator also said the donor states and Qatar would work together to ensure that a peace deal would lead to the launch of a development process in the war-ravaged area.
“We will work together to solve all the agriculture and water problems in the area,” he said. |
