Minister of International Development Hilde F. Johnson is attending the UN Security Council meeting in Nairobi on 18-19 November. The meeting is being held to discuss the situation in Sudan. The Minister has been specially invited to present a briefing on the plans for a donor conference after the parties have signed a comprehensive peace agreement for Sudan.

- The Security Council very rarely meets outside New York, and I am very pleased that this meeting to discuss the Sudan peace process is being held in Kenya, said the Minister of International Development.

The Security Council wishes to focus on the peace negotiations that are taking place in Kenya between the government in Khartoum and the rebel SPLM movement in south Sudan. The purpose is to put pressure on the parties to bring the negotiations to a conclusion as soon as possible and thus put a stop to the attacks on the civilian population and the fighting in Darfur.

- If we can bring the talks to a speedy conclusion, this will not only end the 21-year conflict between north and south Sudan, but will also be an important basis for resolving the conflict in Darfur, said Ms Johnson.

Ms Johnson will also take part in the high-level conference on the Great Lakes region in Tanzania’s capital Dar es Salaam on 20 November. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is also attending the conference. The Minister of International Development will have bilateral meetings with several African leaders while she is in Dar es Salaam.

Press contact: Assistant Director General Ola Brevik, mobile phone + 47 91 69 44 33