Sudan top negotiator expects Darfur peace deal soon

Mar 14, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The Presidential Advisor and head of the government delegation for Darfur peace talks in Abuja, Majzoub Al-Khalifa, said that he expects the two parties to talks to sign a political agreement during the current round of talks, ending the Darfur crisis.

At a press conference he held Tuesday at the Sudan News Agency, Al-Khalifa, said that wide strides have been made concerning the sharing of wealth and power and the security arrangements’ files.

He further added that there are still pending issues such as the structure of government in Darfur, the representation of Darfur in the Presidency institution and the civil service, the resettlement of the refugees and the displaced people, the compensations and development.

Al-Khalifa indicated that the progress in the security arrangements’ file is confronted by difficulties pertinent to the commitment to N’djamena cease-fire protocol, the security and humanitarian agreements, the confrontations between the armed forces and tribal disputes.

He ruled out the possibility of promotion of the government delegation at Abuja delegation, stressing that the government is negotiating as a national unity government and in accordance with a national perspective.

He lauded the contribution of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to push ahead the negotiation process.

Commenting on the recent decision of the Peace and Security Commission of the African Union, Al-Khalifa said that the decision was below the Sudanese people’s aspiration. He called on the sister African and Arab countries to extend support to the African Union forces in the coming stage.

He also denounced the stances of the United States toward Sudan, adding that the US administration did not fulfil its pledges to support the peace process in Sudan, but even adopted hostile attitudes against Sudan after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.