No sustainable agreement without participation of all groups – opposition

BBC Monitoring Middle East

By Sudanese opposition National Democratic Alliance radio

ASMARA, Oct. 19, 2003 — The British envoy on peace, Ambassador Alan Goulty, held a meeting with a delegation representing various groups of the [opposition] National Democratic Alliance [NDA], at the its HQs in the Eritrean capital, Asmara.

The meeting discussed the developments in the Sudanese peace process and the previous sessions. It also discussed the issues expected to be tackled in the current round of talks, being held in Kenya between delegations from the [rebel] Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, led by Dr John Garang and the government of Al-Bashir, led by [First Vice-President] Ali Uthman Muhammad Taha.

The NDA groups presented their views and cautioned that there would not be a stable and sustainable agreement without the participation of representatives of the Sudanese people, on top of which are the NDA. The NDA groups said if the international community was keen that the current war in Sudan is to stop, this would not be achieved without full participation of those carrying arms in all the frontlines and other areas of armed conflicts all over Sudan.

The NDA groups stressed the need for reaching a comprehensive, just and final solution [to the conflict], addressing the root- causes of the Sudanese crisis, guaranteeing a comprehensive and just sharing of power and national wealth, democratic pluralism and guarantee and respect to human rights, so that no groups would resort to carrying arms in future to achieve their political demands.

Meanwhile, the British envoy on peace welcomed what the NDA expressed and promised to convey it to his government and other IGAD [Inter-Governmental Authority on Development] IGAD’s mediators and partners who follow the talks currently going on in Kenya under the auspices of IGAD.