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The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the signing by the Government of the Sudan (GoS), the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army and the Justice and Equality Movement in Abuja on 9 November 2004, of the Protocols on the Improvement of the Humanitarian Situation and on the Enhancement of the Security Situation in Darfur. He congratulates the parties on this significant achievement, and commends the active efforts of the African Union, notably those of its current Chairman, President Obasanjo, in mediating the talks on Darfur, with the support of the United Nations, European Union, League of Arab States and other partners including Norway, the UK and the US. He urges the parties to implement the Protocols fully and in good faith, so as to help improve the humanitarian and security conditions in Darfur. He is hopeful that these measures, combined with the deployment and strengthening of the expanded African Union Mission, will re-establish security and stability in the region, and facilitate the safe return of the displaced and refugees to their home areas. He urges the parties to intensively pursue the political negotiations and conclude an agreement without further delay.