From: Biniam Haile \(SWE\) (eritrea.lave@comhem.se)
Date: Fri Jul 29 2005 - 00:47:02 EDT
Excerpt: "The independent Al-Akhbar newspaper reported that SLM-Minnawi
will propose changing negotiation venues from Qatar to either Libya,
Chad, Eritrea or Egypt saying that they are more experienced in Darfur
affairs."
Sudan acknowledges obstacles with Qatari mediation, blast France
Friday 2 January 2009 04:30
January 1, 2009 (KHARTOUM) - The Sudanese government today acknowledged
the existence of difficulties with regard to the Qatari mediation
efforts on the raging conflict in Darfur.
The Sudanese foreign ministry spokesperson Ali Al-Sadiq also told
reporters that despite efforts by mediators the Qatari initiative is
facing impediments but declined to elaborate.
However the Sudanese diplomat reiterated their commitment to the role of
Qatar in mediating the conflict.
The Sudanese foreign ministry official lashed out at France expressing
doubt that they are keen to have the political negotiations succeed.
"They promised more than once to pressure Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur [leader of
Sudan Liberation Movement faction] to attend peace talks by threatening
to expel him" he said.
"They [French] granted Al-Nur political asylum, financial support and
facilitated media coverage. He travels to a number of countries at their
expense" Al-Sadiq added.
The founder leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) Abdel-Wahid
Al-Nur has been residing in Paris for since 2006 under a special
residence permit granted by the French government. The permit is renewed
every three months.
The Sudanese government has been pressuring France to expel Al-Nur over
his refusal to attend the peace talks before the deployment of
peacekeepers.
Furthermore the French president Nicolas Sarkozy warned his Sudanese
counterpart that he must act on the Darfur conflict or face an arrest
warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The statements angered Khartoum adding further strains to their
relationship.
Al-Sadiq's statements come amidst complaints by the only major Darfur
rebel group to sign a peace agreement that Qatar lack experience to be
an effective broker.
The Arab League has authorized Qatar to spearhead efforts to bring
Darfur warring parties to the negotiation tables.
The former chief negotiator of Minnawi delegation during the Abuja peace
process and the current political secretary of the movement,
Abdel-Gabbar Dosa, told Sudan Tribune this week that the Qataris did not
meet or exchange views with the Sudan Liberation Movement of Minni
Minnawi despite a number of visits the made since last September.
He added that the Qataris who are acting in good faith may need to
understand all the aspects of the five year conflict before to proceed.
The independent Al-Akhbar newspaper reported that SLM-Minnawi will
propose changing negotiation venues from Qatar to either Libya, Chad,
Eritrea or Egypt saying that they are more experienced in Darfur
affairs.
Minnawi is scheduled to travel to Cairo next week to discuss the Darfur
peace efforts.
UN experts estimate some 300,000 people have died and 2.5 million driven
from their homes. Sudan blames the Western media for exaggerating the
conflict and puts the death toll at 10,000.
(ST)
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