Sudanese president to visit southern states on 8 Feb

Feb 3, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese president and Chairman of the ruling National Congress party (NCP) Omer al-Bashir will visit next week a number of the southern states to asses the situation there.

In a statement to the Sudanese radio, First Vice-President of the southern government Riek Machar said that al-Bashir will visit Juba and Rumbek on Wednesday 8 February stressing the importance of his visit, which comes one year after the signing of the peace deal.

Presidential Adviser and Secretary of Political Communication at the NCP Mustafa Osman Ismail said Wednesday 1 February that the ruling party intends to implement a programme of visits to the southern states to conduct dialogue with the political forces there including the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), calling on the political forces in the north and the south to effect joint political movement in support of stability and the national unity option.

He affirmed the readiness of the NCP to make concessions for realization of the national consensus and the interests of the country.

(ST)