Darfur talks – Power sharing commission resumes deliberations

Dec 19, 2005 (ABUJA) — Following the week-long intensive separate consultations conducted by the African Union Mediation in concert with the representatives of the Co-Mediators, Facilitators and the International Partners with all the Sudanese Parties, aimed at moving the negotiations forward, the Commission on Power Sharing resumed its meeting in a Working Group today Monday 19 December 2005 in a serene and constructive atmosphere. The Sudanese Parties engaged in an open exchange of views on the Agenda Items of the Power Sharing Commission. The one week of consultations, as affirmed by the Parties, had been beneficial in creating this conducive atmosphere.

During their deliberations on the first of the four issues under the Commission’s Agenda Item 4, namely: the Levels of Governance in Darfur (the others being the Presidency, the Boundaries of Darfur and representation in the Federal Capital, Khartoum), the Parties reiterated their readiness to pursue the negotiations in the existing spirit of good faith and open-mindedness and to arrive, as soon as possible, at a just and lasting settlement to put an end to the sufferings of the people of Darfur. The Commission will continue its discussions in the same format of Working Group today at 9 pm.

For its part, the Commission on Wealth Sharing, which has so far made substantial progress, with the convivial atmosphere prevailing at its meetings, had earlier agreed on Item 1 – General Principles of Wealth Sharing – and had discussed Items 2 and 3 on Fiscal Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations, which would be finalized during the coming sessions. Items 4 and 8 will be examined at the next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 20 December 2005.

In the same vein, following the preparation of a Draft Agenda for the Commission on Security Arrangements by the AU Mediation, taking into account the views expressed by the Sudanese Parties on the previous Draft, this Commission will resume its meeting in due course to adopt its Agenda and commence discussions thereon.

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