Sudan govt, opposition alliance to start Cairo talks

CAIRO, June 12, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — The meetings of the joint committee between Sudanese government and the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will resume in Cairo today co-chaired by Deputy Secretary-General of ruling National Congress Nafi Ali Nafi and Deputy Chairman of the NDA Gen Abdelrahman Saeed to conclude a series agreements reached between the two sides in the previous rounds of talks.

Leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), John Garang, had arrived earlier this morning coming from the US to participate in the Egyptian-sponsored talks. Members of governmental and NDA delegations arrived yesterday.

First Vice-President of the Republic Ali Osman Mohamed Taha and Chairman of the NDA Mohamed Osman al-Mirghani will sign the final agreement between the two sides on Thursday 16 June.

Saeed said that the aim of the talks is to resolve pending issues, stressing that efforts are being made to achieve peace.

Two committees are to hold their deliberations, the first on military aspects and the second for placing a mechanism and time frame for the implementation of Cairo agreement signed on January 16.

Faroq Abu Eissa, the head of the NDA political delegation said Sudanese govt realises that the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed last January with the SPLM, implies to conclude a deal with the NDA.

SPLM spokesman had described the talks as being “important” as it is to discuss military and political issues, noting Egypt’s leading role in the Sudanese deliberations.