Brussels, 03/07/2000 (Agence Europe) - On 30 June, the Portuguese Presidency made the following declaration on behalf of the EU on the civil war in Sudan:
"The European Union shares fully the conclusions of the sixth Meeting of the Committee on Sudan of the IGAD Partners' Forum, held in Oslo on 20 June. In this context, the EU wishes to make clear its grave concerns regarding the offensive launched by the SPLM/A in the region of Bahr al-Ghazal. The EU calls for the Humanitarian cease-fire commitments given to be respected, and expresses the hope that a global and unlimited cease-fire may be proclaimed by the parties as soon as possible. The EU took good note of the SPLM/A statement of 19 June 2000 declaring its return to the Peace talks and calls upon the Sudanese Government and the SPLM/A to resume rapidly the peace negotiations under the auspices of IGAD".