11 October 2008 -- joint Qatar/African Union and League of Arab States delegation visited UNAMID HQ

1 Dec 2008

11 October 2008 -- joint Qatar/African Union and League of Arab States delegation visited UNAMID HQ

 A joint Qatar/ African Union and League of Arab Sates delegation visited yesterday afternoon, the African Union United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) Headquarters for a briefing on the political, humanitarian and security situation in the mission’s area of responsibility.

The joint delegation, led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Qatar, Ahmed Bin Abdallah al Mahmud which included the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra and League of Arab States Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, Ambassador Ahmed Bin Helli, was received by the Deputy Joint Special Representative for Operations and Management Mission Support, Mr. Hocine Medili and the Deputy Force Commander, General Emmanuel Karenzi.

In his opening remarks, on behalf of the Joint Special Representative, Mr. Rodolphe Adada, Mr. Medili pointed out that “UNAMID strongly believes that no effort should be spared towards attainment of sustainable peace in Darfur, the whole of Sudan and the region at large. He added that due to some constraints UNAMID has revised its “target to achieve 62 percent of the authorized strength of 19,555 of military and 3,772 individual police and 85 percent by 31 March 2009.”

Referring to the Qatari initiative, DJSR Medili noted that this initiative “comes at a crucial time after the Peace Process was showing signs of stalling. UNAMID will support and facilitate the great efforts your delegation is putting forward in the cause of peace.”

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Minister Al Mahmud said that their visit is an expression of “support for the work being done by UNAMID to bring peace which is important for the people of Darfur and Sudan as a whole.” He added that this joint initiative will spare no effort to advance the cause of peace in Darfur. In this regard, he affirmed that efforts to include all critical stakeholders will continue with the aim of bringing lasting peace to the region.

On his part, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, noted that although UNAMID is a “complex mission taking place in a difficult environment, the mission has to succeed; failure is not an option. UNAMID can count on AU for continued support.”