Statement by Press Secretary /Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the Agreement of Good Will and Confidence Building for the settlement of the problem in Darfur between the Government of the Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement Sudan (JEM)

February 18, 2009

The Government of Japan welcomes the announcement that the Government of the Sudan and JEM signed the “Agreement of Good Will and Confidence Building for the Settlement of the Problem in Darfur” on February 17 in Doha, Qatar.
Japan highly appreciates the efforts of mediation made by the Government of the State of Qatar, particularly H.E. Mr. Ahmed bin Abudulla Al-Mahmoud, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, and the AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator for Darfur, Mr. Djbrill Yipènè Bassolé.
Japan strongly expects that based on this agreement, a framework agreement that leads to the cessasion of hostilities and peace in Darfur be soon reached, and that progress can be made towards permanent and comprehensive peace agreement in which all the parties concerned participate.
Japan dispatched the Ambassador in charge of Peacebuilding in Africa, Mr. Keitaro Sato for the opening session of the peace talks. We continue to actively contribute to the peace process in Darfur.

(END)