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Cairo,
Egypt, August 29, 2009 – Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit stated that
Egypt continues to contact all concerned parties to make the Special
African Summit a success. The summit is to be held on August 31st, to
discuss and settle the disputes in Africa with the initiative of the
Leader of the Libyan Revolution and current Chairman of the African
Union. The Summit will focus on the three severest disputes in Africa;
in Darfur, Somalia and the Great Lakes.
Aboul Gheit added that the most recent of the Egyptian efforts is
hosting the Quadripartite Meeting, on last week, which witnessed the
participation of the US Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration, the Foreign
Ministers of Egypt and Libya, and Advisor to the Sudanese President in
charge of Darfur dossier to coordinate efforts in order to achieve a
real and sustainable peace, and discussing the achievement of
Sudanese-Chadian reconciliation.
The Foreign Minister added that the Egyptian visions to settle the
African disputes do not stem from narrow national interests, but stem
from an Egyptian sense of responsibility towards the African brothers,
employing in this regard its expanded and accumulated diplomatic
expertise in resolving disputes, as well as the Egyptian contributions
to the peacekeeping efforts. Aboul Gheit outlined that Egypt
participates in almost all UN peacekeeping operations in Africa, and
will soon be ranked the 5th or 6th among the countries participating in
peacekeeping operations. Aboul Gheit further added that the biggest of
the Egyptian contributions –which is not a matter of coincidence- are
those in the UN missions in Sudan, Darfur, DR Congo, which constitute
the disputes that are to be discussed in the Special Tripoli Summit.
As for the most prominent African disputes that might witness a
breakthrough due to the efforts of the African leaders during the
Special Tripoli Summit, the Foreign Minister stated that the wise and
discreet African balance between the concerns and suspicions of Sudan
and Chad, which has frequently aborted the efforts to settle the deep
disputes between both sides, might enable Africa to succeed in bridging
the gap between the Sudanese and Chadian sides. Aboul Gheit pointed out
that the tensions in eastern DR Congo obviously decreased due to the
successful political understandings between the leaderships of Rwanda
and DR Congo, which sets an example for the possibility of repeating
such a successful experience.
The Foreign Minister asserted that Egypt is keen on an active
participation in the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region
to assist all countries of the region to achieve sustainable development
after restoring stability and achieving the required peace and security.
Aboul Gheit also stated that Egypt effectively participates in the
African Panel of the Wise- which is concerned with achieving
reconciliation and peace in Darfur, and pushes towards reaching an
executable and comprehensive vision that balances between all
considerations related to achieving peace in Darfur.
As for Somalia, Aboul Gheit stated that Egypt sees the international
community hesitant towards Somalia in critical moments during which
Somalia is in more need for support. He also asserted the importance of
a regional and international vision to deal with the Somali issue that
includes clear steps and division of roles to contribute to achieving a
final settlement for the deteriorating political, security and
humanitarian conditions in Somalia.
Source: isria.com, August 26, 2009
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