United Nations Radio

The UN's Special Envoy for the peace process in Darfur, Jan Eliasson, (photo) has been holding discussions with the government and the rebel movements this week, along with his African Union counterpart Salim Ahmed Salim.

Mr. Eliasson told UN Radio that the talks have been positive and most of the movements claim they are ready to take the political road and abandon the military one.

"The most urgent matter now is to reduce the level of violence. We cannot have a process, where you fight and at the same time prepare for talks. There has to be a reduction of violence and we are aiming now for a serious discussion on security."

Mr. Eliasson regrets that in recent months the peace negotiations have been slowed down by the deterioration in the relationship between Sudan and Chad, and serious fighting in West Darfur; as well as by divisions inside the movements, dysfunctional work by one of the coalition partners inside the government, tribal clashes and unrest in the camps.

For United Nations Radio, I'm Dianne Penn.

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