Straw visits Darfur: al-Khartoum achieves a progress
Sudan-UK, Politics, 8/25/2004

The British foreign office secretary Jack Straw who visited Darfur yesterday said that the Sudanese government seeks to meet the UN demands in order to end the conflict, but more demands are requested. Straw said this during his visit to Abu Shouk camp for refugees in northern Darfur.

Straw said that the camps seem more secure, though he expressed his concern over its neighboring villages which one of his companions described as "a country of high- jackers." Straw added "I admit that the Sudanese government has achieved a progress, especially concerning the humanitarian relief and ensuring security inside the camps. But it is clear that tension and concern is still overwhelming the people on whether the situation will be secure when they return back to their villages."

He said he will submit a report to the UN secretary general Kofi Annan over what has been achieved. He continued that the government of Sudan seeks " to abide by what was imposed on it. The matter is assessed by Annan on the extent of the commitment." He added " I will talk with African leaders and other members in the UN Security Council so as all of us by the next week will be in a position where we can assess if there will be progress." Straw ruled out deployment of any British forces in Darfur.

Straw headed for Abu Shouk following talks he had held with his Sudanese counterpart Mustafa Othman Ismael and the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. He added that Sudan on Monday vowed to use Nivasha agreements which was signed in May with the rebels in the south as an example for peace talks in Darfur.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian official News Agency MENA said that four Egyptian observers will join today the African Union observers team assigned to halt fire in Darfur.

In Cairo, Sudanese diplomatic sources said that talks started on Tuesday between the Sudanese government and the opposition parties in preparations to maintain a dialogue between the two sides expected to deal with Darfur crisis, the tension of east Sudan and implementing the agreement in authority and wealth share between the north and the south.

Previous Stories:
  Straw arrives in Khartoum   (8/24/2004)
  Britain is ready to cancel Sudan's debts after peace   (1/29/2004)
  Sudan warns British envoy over supporting rebels moves   (12/25/2002)

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