MOSCOW, Russia, November 25, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- At the invitation of the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr. Sergey Lavrov, UNAMID Joint Special Representative (JSR) /Joint Chief Mediator (JCM) a.i., Professor Ibrahim Gambari, met today with the Minister and the Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Africa, Senator Mikhail Margelov, to discuss the Darfur peace process and seek the further support of the Russian Government for UNAMID's efforts to advance peace, security and stability in the region.

JSR /JCM a.i. Gambari and Foreign Minister Lavrov discussed the overall situation in Darfur, especially the work of UNAMID, as well as the next steps in the consolidation of the peace process, particularly the full and timely implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD).

The JSR /JCM a.i briefed his interlocutors on the efforts of the DDPD signatories, the Government of Sudan and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM), with the active facilitation of the State of Qatar, to implement the agreement. JSR /JCM a.i. Gambari and Foreign Minister Lavrov welcomed the appointment of Dr. Haj Adam Youssef as Second Vice-President of the Republic of the Sudan and Dr. Eltigani Seisi as Chairperson of the Darfur Regional Authority and commended the ongoing efforts of the Cease-fire Commission. They supported the plan for an early convening of the Joint Commission.

The JSR /JCM a.i stressed the importance of increasing the momentum of the implementation of the DDPD and sought Russian engagement with the non-signatory movements aimed at persuading them to join the peace process.

Foreign Minister Lavrov and Special Envoy Margelov expressed full support for the JSR /JCM a.i's initiatives in the peace process and welcomed the efforts of UNAMID in advancing its mandate, particularly with regard to the protection of civilians, facilitation of the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those in need and support to early recovery and development programmes.