Chinese envoy urges Darfur to find peaceful solution
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Chinese Special Envoy to Darfur Liu Guijin on Sunday urged the parties of the Darfur conflict to work to find a peaceful solution for the conflict through the Doha negotiating forum.
"The only way to resolve the problem in Darfur is through peaceful negotiations, through the political process, any boycotting of the political process, any choice of remaining outside the political process is not acceptable, is not conducive to peace and to the resolution of the problem," Liu Guijin told reporters after meeting with Ghazi Salahuddin, Sudan government official in charge of the Darfur file, Sunday in Khartoum.
The Chinese official stressed China's support to Doha peace talks, saying that "we have been consistent in supporting the political process in Doha. All parties should get on board."
He further urged the international community to support Sudan to find a peaceful settlement to the Darfur issue, saying that "it is time for the international community to work closely together with the government of Sudan, with all the relevant stakeholders, to have a peaceful resolution."
Liu, meanwhile, reiterated China's supportive stance for peace in Sudan, in both its north and south, saying that "we will continue to be the development partner of Sudan, all of Sudan, not only in the north, but also including the south. We are ready to work with all the stakeholders to peace, not only in Darfur, but also to the southern Sudan issue."
The Chinese official said his visit to Sudan tended to exchange ideas with the Sudanese authorities and discuss the future strategies regarding south Sudan referendum.
"We are supporting the two major partners to the CPA ( Comprehensive Peace Agreement), the NCP (the National Congress Party) and the SPLM (Sudan People's Liberation Movement) to work together to try to solve the difficulties and obstacles on the way and to have a credible, transparent and fair referendum," he said.
The Sudan government official in charge of the Darfur file, Ghazi Salahuddin, for his part, affirmed the importance of the Chinese support for the peaceful process in Darfur.
"China is a friendly country and supports Sudan's unity and stability, and therefore, the activities of the Chinese envoy reflect the level of this distinguished relation," Salahuddin told reporters following the meeting with Liu Guijin.
"The Chinese envoy has a positive role in the ongoing efforts to settle the conflict in Darfur. We praise this Chinese stance in support of Sudan's issues," he said.
He said that his meeting with the Chinese envoy focused on the developments in Darfur and the government's new strategy to tackle the region's conflict through the political negotiations in the Qatari capital of Doha.
The Sudanese official reiterated Khartoum's commitment to reach a peaceful settlement for the Darfur conflict, but said that "the ongoing negotiations in Doha can not last forever. There are other issues such as south Sudan referendum that will occupy the political arena soon. Therefore, an end must be put to the Darfur conflict".
The Chinese envoy arrived in Khartoum on Saturday in a several- day visit to Sudan to hold talks with a number of Sudanese government officials.
Liu Guijin is expected to participate in a meeting for the envoys of the five permanent member states of the UN Security Council, to be held in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur State, on Monday. The meeting will also bring together representatives from the European Union, the Arab League and the African Union, and will discuss means of ending the Darfur conflict.
