Gambari meets Russian officials

Officials discuss ways to advance peace, security and stability in DarfurThe United Nations African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) chief Ibrahim Gambari met with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian special envoy for Africa Mikhail Margelov in Moscow on Friday.The officials discussed ways to promote peace, security and stability in Darfur. Gambari sought the Russian government’s support for the same. They 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).Gambari stressed on 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.As a response, Lavrov and Margelov expressed full support for 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 programs.