SUDAN HAS TURNED DOWN THE FRENCH INITIATIVE WHICH CALLS FOR CONVENING AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN PARIS ON JUNE 25, 2007, FOR TACKLING DARFUR PROBLEM. MEANWHILE, SUDANESE PRESIDENT OMAR AL-BASHEER URGED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO WORK FOR ENHANCING THE ONGOING EFFORTS FOR THE RESTORATION OF STABILITY TO DARFUR PROVINCE. AT HIS MEETING WITH THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, WHO ENDED TODAY HIS VISIT TO SUDAN, AL-BASHEER UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE OPPOSITION MOVEMENTS IN DARFUR SO AS TO FORCE THEM SIT AT THE NEGOTIATIONS TABLE. AL-BASHEER DEMANDED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO KEEP AWAY FROM THE POLICIES OF THREATS AD SANCTIONS. ON HIS PART, THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER SAID HE HAD COME TO KHARTOUM TO BRIEF PRESIDENT AL-BASHEER ON THE FRENCH INITIATIVE. JUSTIFYING THE REJECTION OF SUDAN TO THE FRENCH INITIATIVE, SUDANESE FOREIGN MINISTER DR LAM AKOL SAID THE TIMING OF THE INITIATIVE WAS NOT SUITABLE FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
