Egypt: Efforts under way to curb internationalization of Darfur crisis

The Darfur crisis has already been internationalized when the UN Security Council put it on its agenda and adopted Resolution no. 1556, Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit said Monday.

In press statements, Abul-Gheit elaborated that Egypt and other Arab and African countries were now doing their best to avoid more internationalization of the issue.

The Arab League (AL), the African Union (AU) and the Unite Nations (UN) will work jointly to help Khartoum implement the decision and follow-up such an implementation, said Abul Gheit.

Egypt views such integration as a "safety valve," he added.

The Egyptian top diplomat said that Arab foreign ministers agreed Sunday on a statement and a resolution that represented "a good Arab move in support of the Sudanese government."

ÊÊÊ The resolution also supports the agreed-upon plan to address the situation at the political level, he added.

Egypt's foreign minister said all Arab countries have condemned violence in Darfur.

During their emergency meeting on Sunday, the Arab foreign ministers affirmed the strength of Arab-African relations, he added.

As regards the deal recently reached by Khartoum and the UN, Abul Gheit said that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan would forward a report on this issue to the Security Council.

On negotiations between Khartoum and Darfur rebels, Abul Gheit voiced hope that the Abuja August 23 date was not that late.

During yesterday's ministerial meeting, Cairo stressed that it was important to prepare well for the negotiations to help settle the crisis.

The foreign minister dismissed the statement that he had said the crisis in Darfur would need 120 days to be solved.

Abul Gheit reaffirmed that Annan would present a report to the UN Security Council at the end of the 30-day deadline to decide upon the next step.

Asked about the British Chief of Staff's statements in which he said that Britain was getting a military unit ready to intervene in Sudan, the foreign minister said the British official himself had denied these remarks.

Queried about concerns that the Iraqi scenario would stand a repeat in Sudan, Abul Gheit said that Darfur issue was not only concerning the US but the whole international community.

He, meantime, highlighted the necessity to disarm all militias in the war-ravaged region.

On the Palestinian track, the Egyptian foreign minister said Cairo was maintaining contacts with the Palestinian and Israeli sides until a zero point for Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip is reached.

The implementation of the Egyptian initiative would take some time, Abul Gheit added.

He stressed that any Israeli withdrawal should come as part of carrying out the internationally-backed Roadmap Plan on Middle East peace.

The top diplomat affirmed that security contacts between the Palestinians and Israelis would create an atmosphere leading to the pullback from Gaza that should firstly be okayed by the Israeli Knesset.

As for the Philadelphia route on the Egyptian border with Gaza Strip, he said that the issue was still under consultations.