Vice-President Taha says rebels’ position at peace talks “tactical”

BBC Monitoring Middle East

By Sudanese radio

KHARTOUM, Nov. 03, 2003 — The cabinet, chaired by the president of the republic Staff Lit- Gen Umar al-Bashir, yesterday at the general secretariat renewed its confidence in the negotiating team at the peace talks. This took place during a briefing session on the Naivasha peace talks. The briefing was made by first Vice-President Ali Uthman Muhammad Taha.

The first vice-president commented on topics which had been concluded their discussions, including power and wealth sharing and the three [disputed] regions. He explained that differences in opinion exist between the government and the movement [Sudan People’s Liberation Movement SPLM] regarding the SPLM proposal for [establishment of ] two [central] banks and specific currency for the south, something he said will not be compatible with the principle of unity. His excellency acknowledged that the SPLM’s position is tactical.

Concerning the issue of power, he said there has been no progress made except in the judiciary axis. He said achieving peace is pegged on finding the demands of the two sides and efforts exerted to overcome contentious points, especially with the support of international and regional conferences.