US: Sudan rebels gave commitment to be in negotiation talks
Sudan-USA, Politics, 11/22/2005

Asked yesterday that "There was peace talks on Darfur were scheduled today and they were postponed again because the main rebel movement is still divided or that Mr. Zoellick just comes back from the region. What kind of hope do you have in that situation?"

US Department Of State Sean McCormack said on the Sudan situation that US "Assistant Secretary Frazer and Mr. Roger Winter who is Deputy Secretary Zoellick's representative on these issues actually has just had some meetings with some of the rebel groups and what they heard from them and the commitment that they said that they had obtained from these groups is actually participate in the Abuja talks. This has been something that has been somewhat of a sticking point in getting the full participation in the Abuja talks. So we think that that is an important commitment. We think it's important that those groups follow through on that commitment and to actually engage in productive negotiations in Abuja. Both Assistant Secretary Frazer and Mr. Winter pressed the local rebel leaders to respect the ceasefire, to develop a common approach to move the Abuja negotiations ahead expeditiously and to pursue a peace that can be a foundation for the development of Darfur."

McCormack added "As we have repeatedly emphasized, the way forward to resolve the situation in Darfur is through political negotiations. Of course, we're going to be there in providing support and assistance to the AU and in terms of humanitarian assistance, the United States is a leader in that regard. We provided over $150 million to this cause and we have pressed very hard, for example, to get the armored personnel carriers that the AU mission says that it needs into Darfur and I'm happy to report that some of those are starting to flow into Darfur now. I think about 24 of 105 are flowing in and we expect over the next month or so that the rest of that number will actually get there."

McCormack said "So we've been working very hard to address the immediate issues, the immediate humanitarian and security issues. But we've also been working hard on the political front, which ultimately is where the solution will be found to the issues in Darfur. So we're pleased to hear from the rebel groups that they are going to be in Abuja and we expect that they are going to follow through on that commitment."

Previous Stories:
  US opens new consulate in Juba, Sudan   (11/17/2005)
  US Zoellick says Sudan at critical juncture   (11/10/2005)
  State's Zoellick presses for end to violence in Darfur   (11/9/2005)

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