British Diplomat Dame Rosalind Marsden has been appointed the new EU Special Representative for Sudan

GOOD news, just in from European Council via APO:
British diplomat appointed as new EUSR for Sudan

(BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium) August 5, 2010 - Dame Rosalind Marsden, a British Diplomat, has been appointed the new European Union Special Representative for Sudan, effective September 1st, replacing Ambassador Torben Brylle.

She has a large experience in African affairs, including as UK Ambassador to Sudan, a position she held until May this year. She will actively participate, on behalf of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, in the international efforts in Sudan, notably the support for the preparations of the upcoming referenda in Abyei and South Sudan, liaising with the Sudanese parties as well as with all the regional, continental and international stakeholders. She will also devote considerable attention to the unsolved situation in Darfur.

Click on label here below to view previous reports. The following photo and report are from Sudan Watch archives:

Her Majesty's Ambassador to Sudan, Dr Rosalind Marsden CMG



Photo: Her Majesty's Ambassador to Sudan, Dr Rosalind Marsden CMG (Consul General, Basra 2006 - 2007) attended the launch of the Southern Sudan Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration programme in Juba on 10 June 2009. (Source: fco.gov.uk)
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Sudan’s Bashir meets outgoing British ambassador Rosalind Marsden

Thanks to Sudan Tribune for this interesting report:

Sudan’s Bashir meets outgoing British ambassador
Report from Sudan Tribune - Monday 24 May 2010:

May 23, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir met today with British Ambassador, Rosalind Marsden who came to bid farewell at the end of her term in the country.

Sudan official news agency (SUNA) quoted Bashir as praising progress of the relations with Britain, and calling for more support to the bilateral ties and joint cooperation to push forward the peace process and the development in Sudan as key elements to realize stability and democratic transformation.

Bashir also asked the Marsden to convey his greetings to the newly elected British government and affirmed the positive role it could play in supporting his country, referring to its commitments in supporting the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and its role in relieving Sudan debts.

The Sudanese head of state has rarely held meeting with Western officials who have largely avoided him since his indictment by the International Criminal Court (ICC). European Union (EU) rules bars its officials from meeting individuals charged by the Hague tribunal.

The ICC urged world officials to sever all "non-essential contacts" with Bashir and other suspects still at large.

Human right groups called on ICC members to boycott Bashir’s inauguration next Thursday saying attending it would be wrong signal to Darfur victims and refugees.

However, the two top U.N. representatives in Sudan will be present at the ceremony according to a statement from the world body in New York. (ST)

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Postscript

Thanks to the Guardian for including this blog, Sudan Watch, in its sidebar for Useful links at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/darfur

• Useful links

• AllAfrica.com: Sudan
• Sudan Watch blog
• Rift Valley Institute
• Sudan Tribune
• UN Mission in Sudan
• UN Integrated Regional Info Network: Sudan

US seeks EU's help in Sudan

Report by Europolitics, Tuesday, 12 January 2010:
US seeks EU's help in Sudan

The United States is urging the European Union to help Sudan organise its April 2010 presidential and parliamentary elections.

"We would encourage the EU to provide the election monitors that have been discussed, upwards of 300," US Special Envoy for Sudan, Scott Gration, told Europolitics, on 11 January, at a press briefing.

He said the EU should also "become involved" in financing the election and the 2011 referendum on whether South Sudan should become independent.

Gration, who met his EU counterpart, Torben Brylle, in December 2009 in Brussels, said the situation in Sudan remained fragile and that in the long term, the country's development of governance and infrastructure "cannot be done without the participation of the Europeans".

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EU's Sudan Envoy Torben Brylle argues peace will pay

The European Union's special representative for Sudan, Torben Brylle, says that the financial benefits of peace make a key argument for ending fighting in southern Sudan.   Mr Brylle says the resource-rich south has a considerable need for investment and development.

On the conflict between the government and groups in Darfur, Brylle expressed optimism that all sides can be brought together for negotiations by mid-November. In particular, he said he hopes civilian representatives might influence local leaders.

The EU envoy cautioned that time is not on the side of diplomacy.



Photo: EU Special Rep. for Sudan, Torben Brylle, was optimistic on peace prospects in remarks at Arab League HQ, Cairo, 15 Oct 2009

EU's Sudan Envoy Argues Peace Will Pay
By Elizabeth Arrott
Cairo, Egypt
15 October 2009. Excerpt:

Photo: Arab League HQ in Cairo, Egypt, 15 Oct 2009

Brylle spoke at Arab League headquarters in Cairo, where diplomats are trying to stem a surge in civilian violence in the region, awash in weapons after the end of a decades-long civil war.

"It is evident that people are looking forward to having the peace dividend as a reality in their lives," he said. "You remember that a comprehensive peace agreement stipulates that everybody should work to make unity attractive in Sudan, and part of that process was of course to also provide for people a change in their livelihood," said Brylle. [...]

On the conflict between the government and groups in Darfur, Brylle expressed optimism that all sides can be brought together for negotiations by mid-November. In particular, he said he hopes civilian representatives might influence local leaders.

"There is a responsibility and there is impatience at least among the people on the ground in Darfur and a call for them to exercise leadership in terms of coming into an agreement with the government. That does not take away the responsibility of the government to enter that process, but it has to be done."

The EU envoy cautioned that time is not on the side of diplomacy.