§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the (a) Arab League, (b) Government of Chad an (c) Sudanese Government on the situation in Darfur; and if he will make a statement. [166535]
§ Mr. MullinWe welcome the humanitarian ceasefire agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and the Sudan Justice and Equality Movement which was signed in N'djamena, Chad, on 8 April 2004. This is an important step forward in resolving the crisis in Darfur and we are very grateful to the Government of Chad for its role in mediating the ceasefire talks.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development spoke to the Sudanese Foreign Minister about Darfur on 24 March, and since then our Ambassador in Khartoum has had a number of discussions with him. We have not been in contact with the Arab League on this issue, though we have discussed the matter with the Government of Chad.