Sudanese opposition leaders hold “positive” talks in Cairo

CAIRO, June 2, 2005 (MENA) — It has been decided to form a mini-committee from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to prepare a working paper on ways to promote the talks on the Cairo platform process in the light of the discussion which took place at today’s meeting which was attended by Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani, the alliance leader, and John Garang, the chairman of the SPLM, in Cairo.

Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani (L), the NDA leader, and John Garang, the chairman of the SPLM.

Shafi Khidr, member of the alliance leadership and member of the mini-committee, stressed that it would not be possible to define a final position at this meeting, particularly in connection with the participation in the constitution committee or in the transitional government.

He said that ways to resume the talks in Cairo between the government and the alliance were the main topic of discussion.

He pointed out that the alliance’s position would be based on the result of these talks, which he thought should focus on the mechanisms to implement the initialled Cairo agreement and dealing with the alliance’s forces in eastern Sudan.

Shafi Khidr was replying to an Egyptian news agency (MENA) question about whether Garang had a specific proposal to push these talks forward.

He pointed out that the alliance had suggested, before Garang’s arrival in Cairo, that the talks with the government on the mechanisms to implement the Cairo agreements and to deal with the alliance’s forces in the east resume on 4 June.

He said that the talks would continue tomorrow, Friday 3 June, and that the dialogue with Garang was positive.

He pointed out that the mini-committee would submit a report with the common vision of the two sides on how to resume the Cairo talks.