Sudan’s Darfur region, DR of Congo top agenda at Annan’s talks in New York

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan held separate talks in New York today with top African and European officials on the situations in Darfur, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

In a meeting with Alpha Oumar Konaré, the Chairman of the African Union (AU) Commission, the two discussed the Abuja peace talks aimed at ending the conflict in Sudan’s troubled western Darfur region, according to a UN spokesperson.

“They also discussed support for the African Union force in Darfur, including the possibility of a donors’ conference,” spokesperson Marie Okabe reported.

On the DRC, they reviewed a number of issues, including how to ensure an inclusive electoral progress. Mr. Konare, who travels to the DRC next week, also spoke with Mr. Annan about the situation on Chad-Sudan border, and steps being taken to defuse the tension there.

Darfur and the DRC were also on the agenda at a separate meeting between Mr. Annan and European Common Foreign and Security Policy High Representative Javier Solana. They reviewed European Union support for the AU force in Darfur and for the electoral process in the DRC, Ms. Okabe said.