UN-AU mediator suggests resumption of Darfur peace talks in August

The joint mediator of the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU), Djibril Bassole, said on Wednesday that he had put forward to the parties of the conflict in the western Sudanese region of Darfur to resume the peace talks in August in Doha, capital of Qatar.

"I have provided a proposal to hold the next round of negotiations in August. We hope that can be achieved, and we are seeking a broad participation by the armed (rebel) movements in Darfur," Bassole told reporters following a meeting with Ghazi Salah al-Din, the chief negotiator of the Sudanese government on the Darfur issue.

Bassole said that his mediating team was having constant contacts with Abdul Wahid Mohammed Nour, the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement, one of the major armed movements in Darfur, saying "Abdul Wahid is still refusing to hold dialogue (with the government), but I am still optimistic about the possibility of his participation in the negotiations."

The joint mediator stressed the importance for the armed movements in Darfur to unite their positions, and the importance to reach a comprehensive cease-fire before entering into the new round of negotiations.

Commenting on the requirement of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to limit the negotiations to the Sudanese government and the movement only, Bassole said "We will continue the discussion with (the JEM leader) Khalil Ibrahim to convince him that the lasting peace will only be realized through the participation of all movements."

Ghazi Salah al-Din, on his part, stressed the Sudanese government's readiness to resume the negotiations with the Darfur rebels movements on the date to be determined by the joint mediator.

While seeking a resumption of the Darfur peace talks, the international mediator also said that it will be meaningless to start the next round of talks when the Darfur rebel groups, whose number has mounted to more than two dozens, insist on their own positions without reaching a united one.

The JEM, which has the most powerful military strength among the Darfur rebel movements, requires the release of hundreds of its elements detained by Khartoum, and an exclusion of other rebel groups from the upcoming negotiations.

Source: People's Daily.
Link: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90856/6702029.html.