SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES RELEASE OF PRISONERS BY GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN AS CONCRETE

STEP IN ONGOING EFFORTS TO NEGOTIATE PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT IN DARFUR

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the commitment of the Government of the Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to release prisoners as part of the “Agreement of goodwill and confidence-building for the settlement of the problem in Darfur”, which was signed in Doha, Qatar, on 17 February, and welcomes the role of the Emir of Qatar in this regard.  This represents a concrete step in the ongoing efforts to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the Darfur conflict.  In this context, the Secretary-General calls upon the parties to act in good faith to further implement this agreement and urges the Government of the Sudan and JEM to work with the African Union-United Nations Joint Chief Mediator and the Government of Qatar towards a cessation of hostilities and a final comprehensive peace accord.

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For information media • not an official record