White House eyes Sudan’s CPA

By Daniel Van Oudenaren

March 3, 2009 (WASHINGTON) – The two leading White House figures behind the Sudan policy review met Friday with the private secretary of the president of the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) and with the region’s head representative to the United States.

Samantha Power, a professor and advisor to Barack Obama while he was in the Senate, is heading the policy review on Sudan along with Michelle Gavin, a former advisor to Senator Russell Feingold.

Gavin is now the assistant to the president for African affairs on the National Security Council, the body that coordinates among the various parts of the executive branch.

The two White House officials welcomed Akot Lual Arec, Private Secretary to GOSS President, and Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, GOSS Head of Mission.

Power and Gavin listened to a briefing from the Sudanese dignitaries and discussed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005. The discussions highlighted the prime importance of the CPA, a deal the United States backs.

The officials also touched on regional security for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army, the former guerillas who are signatory to the peace deal and the ruling party of Southern Sudan. Also they specifically addressed security in Upper Nile, where fighting occurred last week.

Referring to the forthcoming decision on the indictment of Sudan’s president on crimes related to atrocities in Darfur, the Americans highlighted that President Al-Bashir should implement the CPA regardless of the International Criminal Court’s decision.

(ST)