US welcome Sudan-Chad normalization process
December 29, 2009 (WASHINGTON) — The US State Department today hailed the contacts between Sudan and Chad to normalize relations, and urged the two countries to speed the implementation of border monitoring mechanism.
Officials from Sudan and Chad since last October exchanged visits to discuss the implementation of several security and non aggression deals they had signed since 2006. Khartoum also showed this time goodwill by evacuating rebels far from the border areas.
“The United States welcomes the continued engagement between Chad and Sudan to normalize relations as discussed during meetings last week with Chadian Foreign Minister Moussa Faki and Sudanese Presidential Advisor Dr. Ghazi Salahuddin,” said a statement issued in Washington today.
The State Department further urged the parties to fulfill the signed agreements and “set up an appropriate and effective border monitoring mechanism on their shared border as soon as possible.”
The two countries have to meet in Ndjamena on January 7, to finalize technical details related to the deployment of joint security patrols. The head of Sudan’s delegation to Darfur peace talks said they would implement within four weeks the security protocol between the two countries.
According to the signed Dakar agreement they have to carry out aerial reconnaissance patrols they also have to seek foreign assistance to conduct satellite monitoring.
Washington said normalization between the two neighbors and the end of support to rebel groups on both sides, are key element to achieve peace in the restive Darfur region.
During the past months the US envoy to Sudan, Scott Gration, tried to convince the two countries to go forward in the normalization process and stop backing rebels.
(ST)
silake comba
US welcome Sudan-Chad normalization process
Instead of beating around the bush, people must go direct to the point to identfy the problem. Before jumping over or bypassing the hurdles, people must look for ways to remove them. Both Sudanese and Chadian governments need to conduct sincere internal dialouge to find serious genuine solutions for their respective internal problems that are refelected on their relations as regimes.These temporary and tactical measures such as ” joint border patrols ‘ for monitoring or reconaisance flights will not hold. If these measures are to be taken against cross-border activities of armed opposition in both countries, this can be tackled by integration of opposition forces in their respective governments through serious peaceful negotiations. This is the only solution. There must be a cause for armed struggling on both sides. This should not be denied!!!
People must think about the serious consequences that these sort of measures could have, in different aspects, on the fate of Sudanese refugees in Chad. There is an urgent need to determine the status of these refgees, before taking any measures that can deepen their suffering and tragedy through smashing the already feeble threads of link with their home and kins on the other side. More over, during the past few years, many families have been able to send back their kids to pursue their education at different stages. This process should be maintained and encouraged, not blocked by such tactical measures. Or, otherwise, ways for guaranteeing the interests of the refugees in areas such as education, communication with relatives, link with places of origin,ect should be found.
Silkae Ali Comba, El-Fasher
[email protected]