DOHA, Feb 23 (NNN-SUNA) — A quartet summit is due to begin Tuesday in the Qatari capital, Doha, involving the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir, Chad’s President Idris Deby and Eritrean President Assais Afwerki.

SUNA has learned that the summit will synchronize with a ceremony for the signing of a peace agreement between the Sudanese government and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in Doha.

The summit will discuss ways of achieving peace in the region, welcoming the steps for realizing peace in Darfur in western Sudan, the progress of relations between Qatar, Sudan, Chad and Eritrea and other issues of mutual concern.

President Al-Basher, who is already here, has meanwhile pointed out that peace will prevail in Darfur before the coming elections in thecountry, and that war in Darfur has gone forever.

Addressing the Sudanese community in Qatar here Monday, President Al-Bashir addded that the expenses of war would instead be directed for realizing development and rehabilitation in Darfur.

He said he and the accompanying Sudanese delegation came to Doha to witness the final stage for signing the peace agreement with the JEM. He added that it could now be said that peace was now realized in Darfur, and that only the final touches remained for concluding the peace agreement.

President Al-Bashir stated that the agreement to be signed in Doha was regarded as the first step for achieving a comprehensive peace, indicating that several steps had been made for reaching peace in Darfur.

He lauded the role being done by the Qatari government and people in boosting the peace process in Sudan, referring to the firm fraternal ties between the Sudanese and Qatari peoples.

He especially praised the great efforts being exerted by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, for sponsoring and hosting the negotiations for reaching peace in Darfur.

President Al-Bashir also expressed his gratitude to Chadian President Deby, and his courageous initiative to visit Khartoum and his sponsorship of the signing of the framework agreement in N’djamena.

He added that relations between Sudan and Chad were now in their best situation, adding that the bilateral relations would be better than at any time. He said the border between the two neighbouring countries would be an area of trade of commodities, services and benefits instead of a place of weapons trade.

President Al-Bashir also lauded the efforts by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Egyptian President Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, Eritrean President Assais Afwerki, and the international community in supporting the peace process in Sudan.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Sudanese community in Qatar, Abdul-Rahman Bashir Al-Tahir, expressed their gratitude to the role of the Emir of Qatar for realization of peace in Darfur.

He described the framework agreement which was reached by the government and the JEM lately in N’djamena as a turning point for realizing a lasting and permanent peace in Darfur.

Representative of the Association of Darfur Citizens in Doha, Abdul-Rahman Hussein Dosa, affirmed their blessing to the framework agreement, and described it as an important step on the right track. He called on all parties to hurry to join the peace process.

He also expressed his strong appreciation of the normalization of the relations between Sudan and Chad, and commended particularly the successful role and the distinguished method of the Presidential Advisor and official of Darfur file, Dr. Ghazi Salahuddin, in managing the issues. — NNN-SUNA

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