Positive signals have successively come out on the Darfur issue of Sudan: The United Nations Security Council adopted on July 31 the resolution 1769 authorizing a 26,000-strong joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur, which was accepted by the Sudanese government on the following day. Then, on August 6, the AU-UN international meeting on Darfur was held at which leaders of seven Darfur armed movements reached a consensus on political negotiations with the Sudanese government, and welcomed the implementation of resolution 1769.
A series of progress has shed hopeful light on the "roadmap" to Darfur peace designed by UN and AU special envoys. The armed movement leaders agreed on peace talks that will be started in two or three months under the leadership of AU and UN, and committed the cease of hostile actions together with all related parties.
The Darfur issue is at a critical stage, and the flexibility and initiative displayed by related parties have brought hope to a final solution. In the past two months, facts have showed, the trilateral efforts by the Sudanese government, the AU and UN are effective. In June, the Sudanese government announced unconditional acceptance of the joint AU-UN peacekeeping force in Darfur. In July, Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir paid a tour to Darfur with his ministers and other high officials in search of a solution. Meanwhile, the AU and UN mediated effectively among local armed movements and persuaded their leaders to attend the meeting. It is delightful to see that Bashir's declaration that "2007 will be a year of peace for Darfur" is already well grounded.
Of course, implementing effective peacekeeping operations and launching substantial political negotiations are only a short-term objective for the issue. A fundamental solution lies in the "double-track" strategy. That is, Darfur needs not only peacekeeping forces and political talks to deal with current conflicts, but improvement in humanitarian and security conditions as well as regional reconstruction and development, which serve as an important precondition to lasting peace in the region.
In implementing the "double-track" strategy, the Chinese government has played a constructive role by its consistent efforts. This year, China sent a government envoy and a Darfur special representative to the region in inspection tours. China helped with the consultations between the Sudanese government and AU and UN, and provided within its power aid materials to Darfur to improve local people's living conditions. The Chinese government also announced the dispatching of a multi-functional engineer team. It is widely believed that Chinese efforts contributed positively to the solution of the Darfur issue.
The international community should cherish the dawn of peace and seize the opportunity. There must be more sincerity, less selfish desire, more initiative and less entanglement. The international community should not only pull all sides to the negotiation table but urge them to realise reconciliation and carry out peace promises.
It is hoped that more substantial progress can be achieved in talks in coming months, although the reconstruction process can be rocky.
By People's Daily Online
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