To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans she has (a) to encourage further peace talks at Abuja to try to resolve the Darfur crisis and (b) to make further appeals to the opponents of the Darfur Peace Agreement to sign up to the agreement. (84504)

We welcome the signature of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) on 5 May. We believe that if successfully implemented it will constitute a good basis for the resolution of the crisis in Darfur. Neither we nor the African Union envisage further talks at Abuja: reopening the text of the DPA would threaten the agreement that has been reached. We continue to urge all parties in Darfur to support the DPA and are pushing for its rapid implementation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact on the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan of the continuing conflict in Darfur. (84505)

Continued conflict and instability in Darfur risks undermining the successful implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in Sudan. And failure to implement fully and effectively the CPA risks exacerbating the conflict in Darfur. That is why the UK is doing ail it can to secure both peace in Darfur and rapid implementation of the CPA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress she has made in persuading the unified Government of Sudan on the need for UN involvement; and what assessment she has made of the prospect for chapter 8 agreement. (84507)

Security Council Resolution 1679 called for a UN force for Darfur. The African Union (AU) reaffirmed its support for a UN force at its recent summit in the Gambia, President Bashir continues to oppose this. But, there are signs of different views within his Government on this issue. His own coalition partners, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, have said that they accept a UN force for Darfur, We will continue to urge the Government of Sudan to admit a UN force.

Chapter 8 of the UN charter provides for the UN to support peacekeeping operations by regional organisations. We believe that, even with substantial UN or other support, the current AU force in Darfur would struggle to meet the substantial new demands placed on it by the Darfur Peace Agreement, and thus that full transition to a UN force needs to occur as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of (a) the objectives of organisations opposed to the Darfur Peace Agreement and (b) their treatment of (i) internally displaced peoples and (ii) their views on compensation to those affected by the conflict. (84508)

Abdul Wahid’s faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) refused to sign the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA). They asserted that the DPA provided insufficient representation for Darfuris in Government and insufficient compensation for those affected by the war. They have been rallying opposition to the DPA in the Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps.

We disagree. We believe that the DPA offers a good deal for the people of Darfur, including a say for the rebels in Government at the national and Darfur levels, and a substantial reconstruction package. If implemented properly, the DPA will provide the basis for the return of the IDPs to their homes. Those who oppose the DPA are delaying the day when such returns can take place.