Panel meet on follow-up on Doha Document for Peace in Darfur begins

DOHA: The 13th meeting for the committee on following up the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) kicked off yesterday under the chairmanship of Ambassador Dr Mutlaq bin Majed Al Qahtani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ special envoy for counterterrorism and mediation of conflict resolution.

He said security continues to be an obstacle with different provisions of DDPD, highlighting that the weapons collection program and the provisions on disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration are very important.

The ambassador said the document is not open for new negotiations, as it has become a reality that represents the people of Darfur which include the civil society and refugees adding that it has also become part of the Sudanese constitution.

He said it is of dire need to commit to implementing the provisions of DDPD and to the execution of the developmental projects in Darfur.

“There is also dire need to larger contributions from the international community, to call upon all parties concerned to commit themselves to a cessation of hostilities and direct negotiations and to admit that peaceful political settlement alone can ensure sustainable peace and development for the people of Darfur,” the ambassador added.

For his part, Jeremiah Kingsley Mamabolo, the joint special representative and head of the United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), expressed his deep appreciation for the efforts of the State of Qatar’s Amir, government and people and its commitment to implementing the DDPD. He called on the movements that did not sign the document to join it as the basis for any negotiations.

He also pointed to the Sudanese government’s initiative of collecting illegal weapons in order to curb its spread and help in achieving peace and stability.

In his report, Mamabolo reviewed the significant progress made by the document, including the launch of the United Nations Fund for Recovery Reconstruction and Development in Darfur (UNDF) in 2012. The representatives of the Sudanese government and parties who signed the Doha Peace Document in Darfur and the League of Arab States praised the important and active role played by HH the Amir of Qatar, the government and the people in embracing and launching the Darfur peace negotiations, and following up on the document that resulted from these negotiations.

Head of the Liberation and Justice Party Tijani Sissi that the peace document is the most comprehensive, thanking the State of Qatar for its persistence in following up the implementation of the peace document.