UNION AFRICAINE


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PRESS RELEASE No. 34

7TH ROUND OF THE INTER-SUDANESE PEACE TALKS
ON THE CONFLICT IN DARFUR

Dr Salim Ahmed Salim Meets the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in the Sudan

The African Union Special Envoy for Darfur and Chief Mediator Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, today Saturday 4 March 2006, received in audience Mr Jan Pronk, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General in the Sudan, currently on a visit to Abuja. During the meeting, both Sides reviewed the progress so far made at the level of the three Commissions, namely: the Wealth Sharing, the Power Sharing and the Security Arrangements Commissions. They also discussed the deteriorating security situation in Darfur, characterized by continued acts of senseless violence and flagrant violation of the ceasefire.

Both emphasized the urgent need for the Sudanese Parties to immediately stop the ceasefire violations and other acts of violence. They also urged the Parties to respect their commitments under previous agreements and demonstrate greater flexibility and seriousness in the on-going negotiations so as to reach a Comprehensive Peace Agreement, thereby bringing to an end the long suffering of the people of Darfur.

Dr. Salim and Mr Pronk also underlined the need for the Security Arrangements Commission to make substantial progress not only because of the correlation between the outcome of its work with the situation on the ground, but also because of the sensitive and very complex nature of the issues being discussed by the Commission. Furthermore, they agreed on the urgency of convening a meeting of the Joint Commission, which had not met since October 2005, to enable the Sudanese Parties to examine the gravely deteriorating security situation and assume full responsibility for the repeated ceasefire violations.

Both reiterated their commitment to continue their close cooperation on issues concerning the Peace Talks.

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General briefed the AU Special envoy and Chief Mediator on his discussions with the Sudanese Parties participating in the Abuja Talks as well as his recent meetings at the UN Headquarters in New York. .

While underscoring the considerable efforts deployed during the past three months, in cooperation with the International Community, with a view to convincing the Sudanese Parties on the need to arrive at a negotiated solution, Dr Salim for his part, expressed the determination of the AU Mediation to ensure that the present Round of Talks comes to a conclusion as soon as possible within the next few weeks.

Abuja, 4 March 2006

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