Statement by Press Secretary /Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Framework Agreement for the Settlement of the Conflict in Darfur between the Government of the Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM)

February 24, 2010
Japanese

The Government of Japan welcomes the announcement that the Government of the Sudan and JEM signed the “Framework Agreement for the Settlement of Darfur Conflict,” which includes immediate ceasefire, on February 23 in Doha, Qatar.
Japan highly appreciates the mediation efforts made by the Government of the State of Qatar, particularly H.E. Mr. Ahmed bin Abudulla Al-Mahmoud, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and the AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur, Mr. Djbrill Yipènè Bassolé.
Japan strongly hopes that based on this Agreement, further progress will be made towards a permanent and comprehensive peace agreement in which all parties concerned will participate.
Japan dispatched Mr. Keitaro Sato, Ambassador in charge of Peacebuilding in Africa, for the signing ceremony of the Agreement. Japan will continue to actively contribute to the peace process in Darfur.

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