Sudan’s unity is SPLM first choice, says Kiir
July 7, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) is working towards unity, the First Vice President Salva Kiir said today.
Kiir who was addressing a rally at Kadugli, Southern Kordofan said that the government of national unity (GoNU) must “work hard” to make unity attractive “through providing better services and undertaking development projects in the South”.
“Unity must be achieved through this work,” he said.
SUNA described Kiir’s visit as “historical” being the first one he makes to a Northern state since taking office in 2005.
The Southern leader appeared to be responding to concerns caused by his revelation last month that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi promised him to support South Sudan should vote for secession in the 2011 referendum.
The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) condemned the statements made by Gaddafi saying it is an interference in Sudan’s internal affairs. The Libyan embassy in Khartoum denied that Gaddafi made these remarks.
The First Vice president stressed that they want the people of Sudan to live in peace and enjoy the fruits of development and services that both parties want it to reach all over the country.
He also ruled out any return to war despite disagreements with NCP over the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in 2005 saying that both sides “tasted the bitterness” of war.
Kiir warned those seeking to sabotage the CPA describing them as people “who never fought with us before and they never tried war and its sufferings”.
“”We as a movement and NCP are convinced on the uselessness of war and we are working relentlessly to implement the peace agreement” he added.
A US sponsored conference on the CPA implementation held last month in Washington that was attended by representatives of key international players in addition to NCP and SPLM delegates.
However upon returning home both parties traded accusations over the failure of the Washington meetings with SPLM saying that the NCP “has no political will” to resolve the outstanding issues including the disputed census results.
The CPA signed in January 9, 2005 was supposed to lead the country to the first free democratic elections still faces many hindrances and delays.
In 2011 the South will vote in a referendum to decide whether they want to secede or remain part of United Sudan.
(ST)