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Pakistan’s president to visit Sudan next week

Pervez_Musharraf.jpgISLAMABAD, July 29, 2004 (NNI) — President General Pervez Musharraf is likely to visit Sudan next week to explore ways to help address the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, a diplomatic source said on Wednesday.

Dates for the visit have not yet been fixed and are being decided through diplomatic channels, the source said.

“Pakistani President is interested is interested in the situation in the western province of Darfur. And he is willing to take part in finding solution to the crisis,” said the source, requesting not to be identified.

There was no official confirmation of the report.

“There is continuation of telephonic conversation between the two presidents,” the source said.

As part of his efforts the President Monday spoke with President Omar Hasan Ahmad Al Bashir of Sudan to underline that the implementation of the commitments between the UN and the Sudanese Government provides the framework for a viable solution of the serious problems in Darfur.

“President Bahsir appreciated President Musharraf’s keen interest and briefed him about the efforts the Sudanese Government was making to resolve the crisis,” a Foreign Office statement said yesterday.

The President also conveyed to President Bashir the concern of the Islamic world, including Pakistan, about the internecine strife in Sudan and its consequences for the brotherly people of Sudan.

President Musharraf is of the opinion that comprehensive forward movement on the three aspects of the crisis, humanitarian access, political dialogue, and security, would help improve the situation considerably.

President Musharraf in his contacts with the world leaders emphasized that the situation should not be allowed to spin out of control in order to save Sudan and the international community from a grave tragedy.

The President stressed the need for the international community to use all political means to resolve the pressing problems in order to ward off a bigger crisis.

The President has also spoken with Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, and Colin Powell, US Secretary of state, to underscore the need for creating more diplomatic space for solutions that averts the need or rationale of sanctions or the threat of sanctions.

Pakistan, as a member of the UN Security Council, has been actively engaged in discussing the draft text of a resolution on the situation in Darfur, the Foreign Office said.

During the past few weeks, leaders of several countries, including Sweden, Finland, Germany and the US, have requested President Musharraf to play a greater role in defusing the situation in Darfur.

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