Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Tuesday urged all the concerned parties in Sudan to seize the opportunity and bring peace and stability to the country.

 

Addressing Security Council's ministerial meeting on the Sudan issue, Li noted that achievement of peace in Sudan has demonstrated once again that with the support of the international community, African problems can be solved through political negotiations by relying on the wisdom of the Africans, using African ways and under African leadership.

 

He strongly urged the Sudanese factions that have not yet signed the peace agreement to seize the opportunity and make a prompt and right response to the requirement set out by the African Union.

 

The minister said strengthening African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) is the consensus of all Security Council members and the international community as a whole, and the top priority at present is to turn that consensus into reality, helping strengthen its capacity, and laying a good foundation for implementing the peace agreement.

 

He expressed the belief that the Sudanese government and various factions in Darfur will cherish the current opportunity and speed up consultations and cooperation with the UN to ensure the smooth and comprehensive implementation of the peace agreement. Stressing the sole purpose of a UN operation in Darfur is to assist the Sudanese government and various factions in the region to implement the peace accord.

 

Therefore, consent and cooperation of the Sudanese government are prerequisites for the deployment of a UN operation, Li said.

 

The Chinese minister reiterated China's readiness to work with all others and try their best to help Sudan realize peace, stability, prosperity and development at an early date and help the country build up a harmonious society in which all factions coexist in peace and the people enjoy security and well-being.

 

The Sudanese government and the main faction of the Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM), one of the two rebel groups in Darfur signed a peace agreement in Abuja last Friday. But two rebel groups have rejected the accord backed by the African Union, United States, Britain, the European Union and the Arab League and skipped the signing ceremony in a hall at a Nigerian presidential villa.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2006)