In The Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Distinguished Brothers,
Your Excellencies,
I extend to you my warm greetings..and warmly welcome you to your country Qatar, wishing you a happy stay and a successful meeting.
As you are aware, the Darfur issue has remained for the past years a source of deep Arab and African concern. This regretful conflict has claimed so many lives, led to the displacement of local inhabitants and caused the loss of resources and property.
Our endeavors in this Commission and the efforts being exerted by our international partners all converge in pursuit of an enduring and lasting solution to this crisis, which necessitates the consolidation of Arab, African and international efforts. We felt that there is a genuine support for our efforts from the international community and regional countries. Hence, we are now seeking to determine a convenient date for the parties to sit to the negotiating table with a view to reaching an understanding conducive to the establishment of the pillars of peace. We also seek to consult with the armed movements on the disputed issues in order to agree on a unified negotiating position. We were keen to listen to the largest possible segment of the people of Darfur and we will continue to do so until we develop a common vision for the realization of just peace.
The final solution to the problem of Darfur must be based on a broad national consensus that aims at achieving a just, comprehensive and permanent peace which puts an end to war and paves the way to a sustainable peace based on adopting dialogue as the sole means for resolving contentious issues and underlining the unity of Sudan as well as the maintenance of its territorial integrity. To attain that goal, there should be compromises from the different parties in order to reach satisfactory solutions to the crisis by securing a just and permanent settlement. Present actions should also honor past agreements and build on them; balanced representation in the upcoming negotiations should also be observed together with the good preparations for the negations so that they emerge successful.
By this meeting we place the international community before its responsibilities in a complete and clear-cut way and request it to support the peace process by all means and refrain, in the meantime, from all that which is likely to have a negative impact on the peace process in one way or another.
We, in the State of Qatar, are committed to proceed forward with our efforts and good offices with the support of your sincere efforts. While cherishing hope that a crystal clear vision for peace in Darfur will be reached, it is my pleasure to extend to this meeting greetings of appreciation and praise, wishing you every success.
I, now, give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Al- Mahmoud, Minister of the State for Foreign Affairs to brief you on the efforts that have been exerted in coordination with Mr. Djibril Bassole, the UN/AU Joint Chief Mediator.
I thank all of You.