SPLM critical of EU Solana support for Sudan’s unity
September 2, 2009 (CAIRO) — European Union (EU)’s foreign policy chief Javier Solana said today in favor of unity of Sudan as opposed to the establishment to an independent state in southern Sudan.
The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) stipulates that a referendum is to be held in 2011 by which Southern Sudanese will vote to decide on whether they want to have their own state or remain part of united Sudan.
The possible separation of southern Sudan is seen as possible source of troubles and instability in Sudan and the region by some Western and regional countries.
The shaky implementation of the CPA is leading many diplomats to view a need to postpone the referendum and seek to ensure some interdependence between two entities in the country.
However, the southern Sudan ruling party said it rejects any delay and considers referendum 2011 as read line.
“It is very important to have that country united,” Solana told reporters in Cairo after talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Arab League chief Amr Moussa.
“I do look at the map, I do look at the distribution of resources, I do look at the situation… I am for the unity of the country,” he further said.
Last June the EU organized a meeting in Paris on the future of Sudan where some 40 experts took part.
The participants agreed on the need to promote dialogue between north and south Sudan to avoid war between the two parties.
Southern Sudan oil was seen limited and would not ensure a financial sustainability for a future state. Also the exploitation of oil reserves implies cooperation with the north as the south has no pipelines or refineries and the construction of such infrastructure need money and time.
Furthermore the southern heavy crude was seen as difficult to transport though the mountainous region of east Africa.
The US special envoy to Sudan Scott Gration is exerting efforts to facilitate an advancing implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in order to avoid political vacuum between the signatories.
The International experts also expressed fears over the negative impact of southern Sudan independence on Darfur the three areas and eastern Sudan.
On the other hand some experts consider southern Sudan independence as a sole solution for the conflict and supported separation insisting the Islamist regime in Khartoum would not implement the needed arrangements to make coexistence possible between the two parts of the country.
Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) issued a strong rebuke to statements made by Solana today.
Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, head of Southern Sudan’s mission to the United States told Voice of America (VOA) that Solana’s statement was ill-advised.
“The statement is not in line with the CPA spirit because in the CPA one of the options is united Sudan and another option is separation of the south to be an independent state. So, yes all of us have agreed that we are going to make unity attractive to the southerners so that they can vote for unity in 2011. But if the unity is not attractive to them at all, then they also have another option, which is separation,” Gatkuoth said.
“It will not be wise for one person or individual to say that this is the only option that the people of Southern Sudan should explore… we want to say to the EU that in the CPA there are two options,” he said
(ST)