AFRICA/SUDAN - “Only justice brings real peace. I will tell this to the American Secretary of State when he comes to Sudan” said Bishop Macram Max Gassis, Catholic Bishop of El Obeid

Khartoum (Fides Service)- “The fact that Mr Colin Powell is coming to Sudan is a positive sign. I want to meet him, to plead the cause of the weakest members of our country” Bishop Macram Max Gassis, Sudanese Catholic Bishop of El Obeid, told Fides commenting the news that the American Secretary of State will make a visit to Sudan next week.
The US head of diplomacy intends to boost talks to restore peace in the western Dafur region of Sudan centre of a tragic civil war which has forced more than one million people to abandon land and homes. “I want to speak for those who have no voice” Bishop Gassis told Fides. “ The efforts made by American diplomacy are praiseworthy but I fear that they may be content with a hasty agreement in order to present it as a success of the present administration in Washington before the American elections in November.”
“Haste is a bad counsellor and there is a risk of reaching an agreement without solid foundation work” the Bishop continued. “Peace without justice is doomed to defeat. Only justice leads to authentic peace. Here is what I will say to Mr Colin Powell: the legitimate aspirations of the people of Sudan must be kept in mind” the Bishop concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 25/6/2004 righe 20 parole 228)