U.S. says environment in Sudan ‘constructive’ ahead of referendum

January 3, 2011 (WASHINGTON) – The United States today expressed optimism on the prospects for a smooth conduct of the South Sudan referendum this weekend.

“We believe that the right signals are being sent both in North and South in terms of the upcoming referendum and respecting the results. So the environment, we think, is constructive leading into this weekend,” U.S. state department spokesperson Philip J. Crowley told reporters during the briefing on Monday.

“I would say at this point that we are optimistic about the referendum this coming weekend. Sudan and Southern Sudan have come a long way over the past few months,” he added.

He acknowledged that there are still outstanding issues to be resolved between the North and South in reference to post-referendum arrangements such as citizenship, wealth sharing, international agreements, national debt and border demarcation.

Both sides have yet to find common ground on the oil district of Abyei which had supposed to be holding a vote on its own at the same time that has been delayed by disagreements over who should be eligible to vote. Moreover, demarcating the region’s borders has been stalled by threats of the Arab Misseriya tribe who want to be part of the referendum vote.

“We know there’s still a long way to go and a difficult road ahead as we get into negotiations between the North and the South on the post-referendum issues, depending on the choice that the people of South Sudan make” Crowley said.

The U.S. official said that special envoy to Sudan Scott Gration is heading to the region along with Ambassador Lyman and Dane Smith, who are the envoy’s special advisers on South Sudan and Darfur respectively.

He did not address reports from Khartoum that U.S. Secretary of state Hillary Clinton will visit Sudan on Saturday accompanied by former Secretary of state Collin Powell and special envoy to Sudan John Danforth.

Almost 4 million southern Sudanese, or roughly half the south’s population, have registered to take part in the independence referendum on Sunday that is likely to split Africa’s largest country in two, officials said on Monday.

(ST)