Sudanese presidency – Next round of Darfur peace talks will be decisive

KHARTOUM, July 13, 2005 (SUNA) — President of the Republic Omer Al-Bashir, the First Vice – President, John Garang, and the Vice – President, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, have affirmed their resolution that the coming session of negotiations between the government and the armed movements in Darfur, scheduled to begin in Abuja on August 24, will be decisive and final.

Sudanese President Omer al Bashir (center) holds hands with John Garang (right) and Ali Osman Taha (left) in Khartoum, Sudan, Saturday, July 9, 2005. (AFP).

A meeting Wednesday at the Republican Palace between President Al-Bashir, his two deputies, head of the government delegation for Abuja negotiations, Magzoub Al-Khalifa, and the leading member of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, Niyal Deng, decided that preparations for the coming session of negotiation shall begin immediately under the current climate of peace.

The meeting stressed the importance of reaching comprehensive political solution for Darfur problem.

In a statement to SUNA after the meeting, Al-Khalifa said that the meeting agreed on the continuation of the Vice – President, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, to his role as the official of Darfur issue. He said that the participants at the meeting shared identical views on Darfur problem.

Al-Khalifa has briefed the meeting on the outcome of the previous negotiation sessions on Darfur, especially the recent session which witnessed the signing of the Declaration of Principles.

Khalifa said that the coming session of negotiations will discuss the dimensions of development, rehabilitation, security and the return of the refugees and displaced people o their home areas in Darfur states.