Solana discusses EU-Africa ties with AU chief Brussels, Oct 12,

IRNA
EU-Africa
European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana met the Chairman of the African Union Commission Alpha Oumar Konare in Brussels Tuesday evening and discussed developments in Sudan, Darfur and EU-Africa relations.

Both leaders praised the further deepening of EU-Africa relations notably in the quest to consolidate peace, prosperity and stability throughout the African continent.

Solana and Konare expressed concern over the recent deterioration in the situation of Darfur and underscored the need to stop this trend, said a statement issued by Solana's office.

With specific reference to the Darfur conflict, they appealed to the Sudanese government of Sudan and to the rebel forces in the region to respect previous commitments to terminate hostilities, urging both to reach a negotiated political solution in Abuja without which, they said, there will be no lasting peace in Darfur.

Solana told reporters after the meeting that all the parties in the Darfur conflict must be made to understand that there was no military solution to the conflict.

The EU is giving financial, logistic and technical assistance to the AU peace-monitoring mission in Darfur.

The two sides also reviewed the situation in the Great Lakes, Somalia, the Ivory Coast, Mauritania and Liberia.