Sudan’s Garang promises to strive for peaceful end of Darfur crisis

ASMARA, Feb 6, 2005 (Eritrea radio) — President Isayas Afewerki this morning met and held talks with the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SPLM), John Garang.

SPLA leader Dr John Garang leaves a meeting with the chairperson of the African Union Commission, Alpha Konare, in the Addis Ababa AU headquarters 05 February 2005. Garang has said he is prepared to help seek a solution to a bitter conflict in Darfur.(AFP).

During the meeting in Asmara, the two sides discussed developments in Sudan in the wake of the peace agreement signed in Naivasha, Kenya.

John Garang, who arrived in Asmara this morning to attend a meeting of the opposition Sudanese National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leadership, told local journalists suspicions that the NDA meeting in Asmara would be the last were baseless.

Noting that as Sudanese political forces, the NDA and the SPLM would continue to exist in the Sudanese political life, Garang said the meeting would evaluate the prevailing situations and discuss ways of implementing the agreements reached in Naivasha and Cairo.

He said the Naivasha agreement would pave the way to resolving all other Sudanese crises.

Asked about the Darfur crisis, Garang replied: Though the issue does not concern me directly, as a Sudanese, I would strive for its peaceful resolution. He added that the right solution was in the hands of the Khartoum regime and the Darfur opposition groups.

Regarding the recent mass killing in Port Sudan, Garang made it clear that the SPLM condemned any killings of civilians, be it in Port Sudan or other parts of Sudan.