Sudan top negotiator predicts agreement on economic axis soon
April 14, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Chairman of the government negotiating team in Abuja peace talks, Majzoub Al-Khalifa, said he expects an agreement will be reached on the economic axis within two days if a boost is made by the mediators and partners.
Al-Khalifa affirmed the commitment of his government to extend direct support to Darfur Rehabilitation Fund. He said in a briefing at the Embassy of Sudan in Abuja to a people’s and parliamentary delegation of Darfur that a ceasefire agreement would be signed soon.
He pointed out that all arrangements were completed to achieve this objective, including the showing maps of Sudan through satellites where partners prepared this line that came fully typical with real maps of Sudan. He asserted this commitment will be reflected on security of the citizens in Darfur.
The top negotiator renewed the keenness of the Sudanese government to realize peace and refused the portray of the government as having red lines unless someone has violated the rights of Sudan people or breached the Constitution or realizing thing against will of Darfur people.
He indicated that the issue of Darfur requires holding a referendum by Darfur people, saying that what is being raised about participation in the Presidency institution will be timed with end of the interim period.
He said that convocation of mini summit in Abuja and participation of the Vice – President in the peace negotiations gave positive messages to the armed movements and African Union and the international partners on the government seriousness to solve Darfur issue.
He pointed out that the solution of Sudan problems via mediators is considered an exceptional issue because the Sudanese people are able to solve their own problems by themselves, the official SUNA reported.
He refused the living of people of Sudan in camps as hostages who would be exploited by alien circles, affirming that there is no isolation to any one of Darfur people and that they have a real cause.
Al-Khalifa is often denigrated for his inflexibility and incompetence to deal with such important issue. Yesterday the daily Khartoum Monitor said “Majzoub al-Khalifah was a total disaster. He had little grasp of the situation and was very arrogant”.
Some negotiators in the two years old talks preferred to decline their participation in the governmental team to express their rejection of al-khalifa approach in the negotiations.
The maintaining of al-Khalifa can be explained by the power straggle within the ruling National Congress Party where al-Khaifa is backed by the strong Nafei Ali Nafei.
(ST)