国际英语新闻：Sudanese President says Doha will be last negotiating forum on Darfur conflict

KHARTOUM, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir affirmed Saturday that Doha would be the last negotiating forum regarding the Darfur conflict and that his government was ready to reach a peaceful settlement for the conflict.

"Doha will be the last negotiating forum. We will not allow a new forum. If there is a party who wants peace, we are ready," said al-Bashir when addressing a meeting of the Shura ( consultation) Council of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in Khartoum.

"Obtaining government posts through rebellion and arms carrying will not be possible after today. The only means for reaching power and assuming posts is through voting boxes," he added.

In the meantime, the Sudanese president reiterated his commitment to conducting the referendum on self-determination of southern Sudan as scheduled on Jan. 8 of 2011, but urged the two partners in the Sudanese government, the NCP and the Sudan People' s Liberation Movement (SPLM), to work together to persuade the southerners to vote for unity.

"The referendum will not decide the destiny of the south alone but the destiny of Sudan as a whole, whether to remain united or divide into two states. We are still convinced with the importance to work for unity and we will work for that," said al-Bashir.

The Sudanese president meanwhile disclosed features of the new government, which is expected to be announced in a few days, where he declared that the NCP would leave the Oil Ministry for its partner, the SPLM.

"Previously there were talks that the NCP was not transparent enough in dealing with the oil revenues. We have decided that the Oil Ministry would go to the SPLM, while the NCP will assume the responsibility of the Foreign Ministry," he noted.

A new round of peace talks regarding the Darfur region is expected to begin in the Qatari capital of Doha on Sunday, but the talks will likely to face a real barrier in the absence of the Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the major Darfur armed group, which decided to freeze the talks with the government.