(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-10-29 07:15

The Libyan coastal city of Sirte has drawn international media attention as a new round of peace talks on Darfur began there on Saturday.

Sponsored by the United Nations, the conference is focusing on finding solutions to concerns that were not addressed by the Abuja deal on Darfur peace, signed between the Sudanese government and the main faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement in the Nigerian capital on May 5, 2006.

Despite the odds that representatives of several major rebel factions have yet to turn up at Sirte, it is encouraging to hear the Sudanese government announcing a unilateral ceasefire in Darfur on Saturday at the conference's opening.

As Sudanese chief envoy Nafie Ali Nafie pledged: "We shall not be the first ones to fire arms." It is also worthy to note that the rebel factions present at the conference agreed to a ceasefire.

The call from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's special envoy Jan Eliasson for an end to violence should be heeded. "There is no military solution to the Darfur crisis."

It is true that progress has been made over the past two years to push for peace in the Darfur region. African Union (AU) peacekeeping forces have achieved progress in the region.

However, there have been breaches of ceasefires and some AU peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives as a result of the violence.

Above all, a lasting ceasefire and peace is still a dream rather than a reality.

Without a genuine, sustained ceasefire much needed emergency aid will not arrive in time to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the region and it will be very difficult for the joint UN-AU peacekeeping forces to play their due roles there.

Without a further agreement and whole-hearted efforts to secure long-lasting peace, there will be no way for the local people to embark on the road to economic recovery.

The Darfur crisis is rooted in poverty and economic backwardness. But only peace and development, instead of violence and confrontation, are the answers to ridding the calamity and creating an environment in which the people can engage in gainful employment to improve their livelihood.

The international community as well as all sides in the Darfur region should make every endeavor to keep the healthy momentum for a lasting ceasefire and peace while discouraging and opposing those who are fanning the flames for continued hostility.

(China Daily 10/29/2007 page4)