Egyptian FM calls for Sudan-UN dialogue on Sudanese Darfur

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Ghiet called Tuesday on the Sudanese government and the United Nations to hold dialogues on Sudan's strife-torn western region of Darfur.

Abul Ghiet made the call while meeting with EU envoy to Sudan Pekka Haavisto and briefed him on Egypt's vision of the latest developments as to Darfur crisis, reported the official MENA news agency.

Egypt's vision is in favor of giving an opportunity for dialogue between Khartoum and the United Nations in a bid to reach a mutual understanding that would help in restoring peace and stability in Sudan's strife-torn Darfur as soon as possible, Abul- Gheit was quoted as saying.

After the meeting with Haavisto, Abul-Gheit told reporters that Egypt's stance is that the Sudanese government's approval of the deployment of international forces in Darfur was "inevitable".

All parties should examine the existing alternatives and solutions that could help in overcoming the current crisis in Darfur region, stressed Abul-Gheit.

For his part, Haavisto hailed Egypt's efforts aiming at solving Darfur crisis, assessing as "excellent" and "constructive" his meeting with Abul-Gheit.

The European Union is keen to hold constant consultations with Egypt on the situation in the Sudanese territories, said Haavisto.

Sudanese Minister of State for Information and Communications Farh Agar announced on Saturday that the file of deploying UN peacekeeping forces in the country's western region of Darfur had been closed.

"Sudan has surmounted the stage of whether to let in the international forces", Agar told the press, adding "the United Nations is now considering how to support the African forces in Darfur while the Sudanese government is talking about increasing and supporting the African forces and reinforcing them with troops from Islamic and Arab countries."

It was reported that the UN and AU have presented a plan of sending UN experts and technicians besides financial assistance to the AU forces, which have been accepted by the Sudanese government.

In view of Sudan's persistence in its refusal of deploying international peacekeeping forces in Darfur, the AU decided last month to extend the mandate of its 7800-strong forces in Darfur to the end of this year.

Source: Xinhua