Arabic Media

January 14 , 2008

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Headline: France Welcomes Egypt’s Participation in Darfur Hybrid Force

• French Foreign Minister Bernard Kushner welcomed Egypt’s participation in Darfur hybrid force and adding that demands for an all-African force will be looked into
• Last week, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak reiterated his government’s support for Darfur peacekeeping mission and for negotiating an end to the crisis

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Headline: American Team in Khartoum to Discuss Darfur Crisis and France Warns JEM against Expanding Its Activities to Kordufan
By: Abdul Wahid Libini and Saeed Al Ghareeb

• An American team headed by Linda Thomas of the U.S. State Department arrived in Khartoum to discuss Darfur crisis. The visit reflects warming relations between the two countries
• Meanwhile, France issued a strong warning to Justice and Equality Movement against expanding its military activities from Darfur, where its armed activities were curtailed, to Kordufan region
• French source indicated that US will meet with three Darfur rebel groups: Justice and Equality Movement, Sudan Liberation Movements – Abdul Shaffi and Abdul Wahid Nour factions, and Sudanese government to push along peace talks

Source: Addustour (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: EUFOR Properly Equipped to Carry out Its Mission, Says European Official

• European official declared EUFOR force ready to be deployed in eastern Chad and northern Central African Republic, adding it was properly equipped after France, Belgium, and Poland promised to provide needed transportation equipment
• Poland pledged 400 troops instead of 350 it previously promised

Source: Asharq Al Awsat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: China Rejects Blame for Darfur Crisis
By: Edward Cody

• Chinese envoy to Africa Liu Guijin rejected Western activists’ charge that China shares a blame in Darfur crisis
• Western countries and activists increased their criticism of China over its lack of cooperation regarding Darfur hybrid force and for supporting Sudan’s defiance of the international community
• Guilin’s response reflect China’s desire to pre-empt any attempts to link the Olympics games to Darfur crisis, which is an aim of some western humanitarian activists
• Guilin said that China should not be blamed for actions taken by the Sudanese government, adding that his country urged Sudan to respect the international community’s demands

Source: Addustour (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: Chadian Rebels Calls on France to Be a Honest Peace Broker

• Chadian rebel groups called on France to be an honest and strong peace broker; not act as the mouthpiece of Idriss Deby’s regime
• The rebels questioned whether France’s commitment was for the benefit of Chad or to prop up its puppet in N’Djamena
• They repeated their willingness to resolve the crisis peacefully and urged France to play a constructive role by being a fair and honest peace broker

Source: Okaz (Government-Friendly, Saudi daily with strong circulation)
Headline: UN Security Council Condemns Attack on Darfur Hybrid Force

• UN Security Council strongly condemned recent attack on Darfur hybrid force and warned all parties involved in Darfur crisis against any such attacks
• The UNSC members approved a non-binding resolution condemning Sudanese forces’ attack   
• The resolution, which was read by Libya’s representative, indicated that the Council would not allow any party to jeopardize this humanitarian effort
• US envoy told journalists that the Council might consider political, economical, and political sanctions against Sudan

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Headline: Al Ahram Conference on Democratic Change in Sudan Urges National Reconciliation
By: Asma Al Husseini

• Conference on democratic change in Sudan held in Cairo called for major reform steps involving all government branches: legal, security, military, economic, political system and parties, media, and elections
• The conference also urged national reconciliation
• Participants praised Egypt’s constructive role in helping its southern neighbor deal with its internal issues and called for increased cooperation and coordination