Sudanese rebel leader Garang, Eritrean president Afewerki discuss peace talks
ASMARA, April 24, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — Eritrean president Isayas Afewerki received the leader of the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) John Garang who briefed him on the developments in Sudanese peace talks in Naivasha.
In a statement he gave to local journalists about the impasse in the Naivasha peace talks, John Garang said there was no progress in the peace talks in the last three months.
President Afewerki has affirmed that Eritrea, in collaboration with Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) member states and friends of IGAD, would endeavour for the success of the ongoing Sudanese peace talks
He said Eritrea fully supported the peace talks in Naivasha.
Eritrean president further added the Naivasha peace talks would contribute greatly in ensuring the prevalence of a comprehensive peace in Sudan as well as the peace and stability of the Horn of Africa.
The leader of the SPLM/A, John Garang, left the Kenyan town of Naivasha, venue of the Sudanese peace talks, on Thursday 22 April, after the departure of Sudanese vice president Ali Osman Taha to Khartoum since more than one week.
Speaking about the situation of the Naivasha peace talks, John Garang said “Since the Sudanese government delegation has not yet returned from Sudan, I informed the IGAD secretary-general that I could not negotiate alone, and I am here until the Sudanese government delegation returns back to the talks.”
The rebel leader indicated that he came directly from Naivasha to Asmara, and he was there until yesterday. He underlined his readiness to go back to Naivasha any time when the other side has gone to Naivasha, “So it depend on the other side when they go”, Garang said.
The Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail, has said the first vice-president, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, will return to Naivasha [today, to resume the peace talks with the SPLM leader John Garang.
Reports from Kenya had indicated that Garang left Naivasha proceeded to Rumbek in southern Sudan.
Garang had held similar meeting with President Yoweri Museveni in Uganda.