Sudan’s peace partners to begin post-referendum negotiations next week
July 22, 2010 (JUBA) – The two parties to the 2005 North-South peace deal, the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) are expected to begin negotiations on the post-referendum issues next week, announces the SPLM Deputy Chairperson.
Riek Machar Teny, on Thursday, informed the Southern Sudan 2011 Taskforce that the negotiations will take place in Khartoum on the 27th July to try to resolve on the issues pertaining to the post-2011 referendum arrangements. This week the two parties signed a document on guiding principles for the negotiations.
In the guiding principles, the parties recommitted themselves to the holding of the referendum on self-determination of the people of Southern Sudan on the 9th of January 2011 and respect the choice of the people.
However, the parties recognized that the CPA stipulates that the “parties agreed to make unity an attractive option for the people of southern Sudan, based on the free will of its people, democratic governance, accountability, equality, respect, and justice for all citizens of the Sudan, and affirmed that the people of Southern Sudan have the right to self-determination to freely choose between unity or secession.”
“The parties believe that the decision of the people of Southern Sudan to freely choose either unity or secession should not be interpreted in any way to hinder the continued efforts to foster positive relations between the people of the South and the North,” it stated.
They affirmed that regardless of the outcome of the referendum, maintaining a sustainable peace and cooperation between the people of the South and the North is a high priority and objective.
“The parties believe that either decision of the people of Southern Sudan shall be an opportunity to enhance cooperation among the people of Sudan and the region and the international community. The parties share the desire to work together to pursue harmonious relationships and peaceful coexistence between the South and the North and to promote and protect the sustainable livelihoods and welfare of the people,” the document reads.
The two parties will negotiate on the future of oil production, transport and marketing, assets, debts, Nile waters, security, international treaties, currency, etc., especially in case of the country splitting into two independent states.
(ST)