The European Union’s High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, arrived in Khartoum on Saturday, in order to help advance the peace talks, reports the Sudanese daily A-Rai Al-‘Am.
Before landing in Khartoum, Solana called on the Sudanese government and the southern opposition movement led by John Garang, to make haste and complete the final peace treaty between them. Solana said the key to solving all other crises in Sudan, especially the one in Darfur, is ending the war in the South. Solana attended a press conference, where he refused to label what is happening in Darfur as genocide.
Solana will proceed with talks with government officials on Sunday. Sudan’s Foreign Minister Dr. Mu’stafa ‘Uthman Isma’il, who held a joint press conference with Solana upon his arrival in Khartoum, said, “the government does not have any problems with the European Union.” This is despite Sudan’s recent denunciations against the EU and the U.N., according to which the crisis is an African matter, and no political or military intervention from Europe will be allowed.
Talks between the government and the two rebel movements in Darfur, western Sudan, will begin on Monday in Abouja, Nigeria. This round of talks is supposed to take place over the next three weeks.