Egypt: Mubarak discusses with Bashir in Cairo Sudanese stability and how to overcome Darfur crisis

President Hosni Mubarak Wednesday 25/3/2009 held tête-à-tête summit with Sudanese President Omar Bashir who arrived in Cairo yesterday at the head of a high level Sudanese delegation.

At a joint press conference by the two countries foreign ministers; Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit said the Egyptian-Sudanese summit by Mubarak and Bashir rejected the approach of the international Criminal Court (ICC) in dealing with Sudan.

Abul-Gheit said discussions between the two leaders touched on the situation in Darfur and how to reach a political settlement and secure a humanitarian situation which would not enable foreign parties of claiming that there is a humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

He said Egypt stressed its willingness to help Sudan overcome any humanitarian difficulties on the ground, adding Egypt was also keen to close any gap mainly in the medical and health care fields.

He said there is an Egyptian decision to dispatch a number of Egyptian doctors to Darfur immediately and to urge NGOs and Islamic governments to enhance their presence in Darfur to fill any gap that could arise from the departure of international relief organizations from Darfur.

Abul-Gheit said there is an Egyptian understanding and determination not to allow anything that could shake Sudan's stability or undermine the relationship between northern and southern in Sudan.

For his part, Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor said the visit to Egypt by President Bashir came at the invitation from the Egyptian government, indicating that talks focused on some important issues mainly the ICC arrest warrant against the Sudanese President, and the humanitarian situation in Darfur after the Sudanese government expelled 13 international relief organizations from Darfur.

He said the second topic was the comprehensive peace process in Sudan.

The Sudanese Foreign Minister said the humanitarian situation in Darfur is stable adding the Sudanese government has pushed much aid to Darfur adding that efforts are underway to urge Arab and African Organizations to help Darfur residents. He said a United Nations Committee has visited Darfur and asserted in a report that the situation in Darfur is balanced and satisfactory.

Abul-Gheit said Egypt is cooperating with international community to apply the article No. 16 of the ICC law which provides for freezing any measure against Sudan for at least one year, during this period every possible effort will be exerted for settling the Sudanese problem.

He said during this period the Sudanese government would also hold trials for any elements which have committed crimes against the Sudanese people.

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