Malian FM hopes next round of talks to be decisive

Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdoulay Diop expressed, Wednesday, the wish to see the next round of the inter-Malian negotiations enter a “decisive” phase and “not that of a debate” for the final settlement of the crisis in the country.
“Today, it is no longer time for debate. Our wish is to enter a decisive phase and to invite the main government officials, such as armed movements, to sit and resolve the political issues,” Diop told the press on the sidelines of the holding of an inter-Malian strategic committee session with his Algerian counterpart Ramtane Lamamra, ahead of the launch of the 5th inter-Malian negotiations round.
He added that “unfortunately, it is violence that reigns,” underlining the necessity to overthrow this tendency and give all chances to the political process for a final settlement of the crisis.”
The Malian official said he was confident in the settlement of the Malian crisis, underlining Algeria’s “extraordinary” work as head of the international mediation, led with “professionalism” and “commitment.”
The inter-Malian dialogue, launched in July 2014 in Algiers, was marked by the holding of four rounds, under the leadership of an international mediation led by Algeria.