Doha: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud has described as intensive, positive and transparent the talks held by the joint mediation for Darfur peace in the past two days in Doha.
A delegation from Sudan Justice and Equality Movement and Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minnawi held talks.
Al Mahmoud said the two movements have put forward their views and their delegation confirmed that they will continue efforts to reach a peaceful settlement and affirmed Doha as the venue to establish peace in Darfur. He said the two movements also stressed their confidence in joint mediation and that there were some procedural matters that needed consultation with the other party — the government — to reach the desired result.
Al Mahmoud said the two movements had confirmed willingness to go on and looked forward to returning again, hoping that all will take a second step forward in this way.
On whether there will be a return to talks during Ramadan, he said the return to talks depends on the consultations outcome because there are issues, some might be solved while other procedural issues need more consultation. Two days were not enough to consult on these issues and some points need to be approved by both parties.
On whether these points represent conditions or demands, Al Mahmoud said there were no conditions but demands were presented.
He said the delegation had presented the two movements’ views about some matters relating to Darfur issues, and as a mediator, he is trying to bring different views together to create a shared understanding with the government to proceed.
Dr. Martin Uhomoibhi, Joint AU-UN Special Representative for Darfur, and Head of UNAMID and Joint Chief Mediator, said the Doha meeting was important and stressed that the arrival of the two movements delegation in Doha is an essential achievement. He said he believed that meetings over three days with both movements represent a great achievement and that the participants agreed that the most important matter is that the talks must continue until peace is achieved in Darfur.
He thanked and praised Qatar for hosting these meetings and its sincere and hard work to establish peace in Darfur and in Sudan in general.
About the outcomes of the talks, Dr. Uhomoibhi said he is very optimistic, especially that the talks were held in an atmosphere of transparency, intimacy and trust. He said positive matters overshadowed the meetings and discussions in all topics and viewpoints. The talks followed the Paris meeting between Al Mahmoud the two movements and the meeting of Dr. Uhomoibhi with the movements in Addis Ababa on April 15 and 16. They discussed procedural issues that will pave the way for the resumption of the peace process between the Sudanese government and the two movements to achieve peace in Darfur.The Peninsula
