Garang to leave Khartoum for duties in southern Sudan

KHARTOUM, July 20, 2005 (Xinhua) — Sudanese First Vice President John Garang announced here Wednesday that he will leave the capital Khartoum on Friday to start his duties as southern Sudan’s president.

People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) leader John Garang is welcomed by supporters in Rumbek, on June 11, 2004. (AFP).

At the first press conference held since his sworn-in on July 9, Garang said he will return to Rumbek town, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM)’s capital, to exercise his duties as the southern Sudan government’s president.

He expressed satisfaction at the time he has spent in the presidency institution in Khartoum, saying “we have had good ties in the presidency institution and we will go on creating further relations.”

Garang and his SPLM had waged a 21-year civil war against the Sudanese government before a comprehensive peace agreement was signed in January 2005.

Based on the agreement and the following interim constitution, Garang was sworn in as first vice president on July 9. Then he dissolved his rebel movement in the south and relieved all government officials from duty, replacing them with caretaker administrators.

The caretaker government will run the south until a referendum on secession is held six years from now on.

Addressing the press conference, Garang said Sudan will not be a follower of any country, adding that the Sudanese institution of presidency will work for the implementation of the southern Sudan peace agreement.

Garang arrived in Khartoum on July 8 for the first time since the war started in 1983, when the SPLM took up arms to fight for self-determination in the south.

During his stay in Khartoum, a state of emergency has been lifted from most areas of the country.

He received reports on the situation in different fields of Sudan from the government’s officials and the civil society organizations and he issued a number of decrees concerning the government of the south.

Garang said the SPLM is keen to share the political process with all southern Sudan factions and they will not abandon any party.

“We will work along with the National Congress Party within our partnership to implement the peace agreement and this partnership is not against anyone,” said Garang.

He also stressed the importance of the comprehensive peace agreement in Sudan and solving the conflicts in Darfur and eastern Sudan as well as the participation of all Sudanese political parties in the peace process.

He said the peace agreement between Khartoum and the SPLM has offered two options for solving the dispute of southern Sudan militias, either by joining the SPLM or the northern Sudan armed forces.

“No activities will be allowed for any armed militias out of the two organizations, the northern armed forces and the SPLM,” said Garang.

In the meantime, the southern leader denied allegations of connection between his former rebel movement and Israel.

The allegations are invalid “old accusations,” he said.

On the possibility of SPLM beginning contacts for ties with Israel, Garang said “the decision on whether to establish relations with Israel will remain a choice for the Sudanese government.”

He added that solving the conflict in Sudan’s western Darfur region and eastern Sudan is an important factor to improve Sudan’s external relations.

The external relations for any country would reflect the country’s internal relations, Garang said, adding that seeking a peaceful solution for the east would lead to improved ties with Eritrea.