JANUARY 18 DARFUR TALKS IN DOHA: OFFICIAL

UNCLAS DOHA 000023 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM SU QA SUBJECT: JANUARY 18 DARFUR TALKS IN DOHA: OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE ¶1. Below is the English-language communique provided to Embassy Doha by Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the outcome of January 18 consultations on Darfur. ¶2. Begin Communique: In the framework of the ongoing efforts by the international community to find a solution to the Darfur conflict and in continuation of the Doha meetings and consultations in November 2009, including the First Civil Society Forum and the launching of the peace talks, the Mediation convened on 18 January 2010 in Doha the second International Experts workshop on the Darfur Peace Process. The opening session was presided by His Excellency Mr. Ahmed bin Abdulla Al-Mahmoud, the Qatar Minister of State, and His Excellency Mr. Djibrill Bassole, the AU-UN Chief Mediator, in the presence of His Excellency Ramtane Lamamra, the AU commissioner for Peace and Security and His Excellency Ahmed Bel Heli, Deputy Secretary General of the League of Arab States. It may be mentioned that the session was followed by a brainstorming meeting between these officials during which they exchanged views of the peace prospects in light of the prevailing positive environment. The participants welcomed the positive developments on the three Mediation tracks: the Sudan Government and the Armed Movements, the Civil Society, and the normalization of Chad-Sudan relations. They reiterated their full support to the Joint Qatar/AU-UN Mediation and its planned programme of activities. They called on all the parties to remain fully committed to the Doha Peace Process. Experts from the United Nations, the African Union, the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council, the European Union, the Contact Group on Darfur, and other partners and organizations are participating in the workshop. The aim of the workshop is to take stock of the outcome of the various contacts and consultations undertaken by the Mediation with different Darfur stakeholders as well as the status of the current efforts on the reunification of the movements. At the conclusion of their deliberations, they will submit to the Mediation recommendations on the above mentioned issues and the way forward. Doha, 18 January 2010 End Communique. LeBaron