EU to hold talks with international officials on Darfur

AP Mar 7, 2006 reports European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana will hold a series of meetings Wednesday with officials from the US, African Union and Sudan on how to advance international efforts to solve the conflict in Darfur, his office said. Excerpt:

The talks at EU headquarters will focus on how key donors like the EU and the United States can help spur peace talks between the Darfur rebels and the Sudanese government, his office said in a statement Tuesday.

Officials said Solana would hold talks with Deputy US Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, Sudan's Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha and Alpha Oumar Konare, chairman of the AU's Commission.

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Hedi Annabi also is to attend the round of talks aimed at keeping peace efforts alive. Peace talks between Darfur rebels and Sudanese officials in Abuja, Nigeria, are "crucial," the EU said.

"Only a political solution, based on mutual concessions by all sides, will enable this region to stabilize and its people to regain their confidence so that the displaced persons and refugees can return home," it said in the statement.

The Brussels talks also are expected to focus on ensuring that oil revenues are fairly split among ethnic groups in Sudan.

The AU's peacekeeping mandate expires at the end of March. On Friday, ministers are to discuss whether the AU should hand over the mission to the U.N. with the AU mission is quickly running out of funds.

The UN Security Council recommended on Feb 3 that the United Nations start planning to take over peacekeeping in Darfur. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has urged major powers to take part, saying an expanded force will need the kind of assets only a highly capable military can provide. (ST/AP)