Japan hails Sudan peace implementation, urges more

January 9, 2008 (TOKYO) – On the occasion of the third anniversary of the Sudan peace deal, the Japanese government praised the capacity of the CPA signatories to overcome political crisis. However it urged the parties to steadily implement its provisions.

On January 2005, the government of the National Congress Party (NCP) and the former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to end two decades of war.

The Japanese foreign ministry hailed in statement issued on Wednesday that the “CPA has been implemented by the efforts of both the NCP and SPLM.” Tokyo also welcomed the fact that the political confrontation between the two parties over the CPA was settled after several talks, leading to the resumption of the process toward further implementation of the Agreement.

“The two peace partners have succeeded to overcome a two months political crisis after the withdrawal of the SPLM form the national unity government to protest the ill implementation of the CPA. The SPLM ministers resumed their activities in the federal government at the end of the last year.”

The statement said peace and political stability in the country would not have been realized without the 2005 peace deal. It added that firm promotion of the CPA will contribute to find a solution of Darfur conflict.

Japan urged the CPA parties to steadily implement the provisions stipulated in the Agreement.

The oil rich area of Abyei remains the main pended issue in the CPA implementation both parties adopted intransigent position that could threaten the CPA implementation.

Japan has already extended a total of more than 200 million dollars for the consolidation of peace in Sudan. Moreover, as the country that will hold the G8 Presidency and also host TICAD IV in May this year, Japan said will further promote its support for Sudan including the implementation of the CPA.

(ST)