Sudan’s Bashir, Mayardit to address Joint NC-SPLM meeting

April 23, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese President and the FirstVice-President will address the first joint meeting of the political leadership of the two majors forces of the Government of National Unity next month.

President of the Republic, Chairman of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), Omer Al-Bashir and First Vice-President, Chairman of the Sudan’s People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Salva Kiir Mayardit are to address joint meeting of NC’s Leadership Office and the SPLM Political Bureau on May 1st at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum.

The meeting which is the first of its kind at this level between the two partners, is to discuss means of boosting the partnership between the NC and SPLM, the state-run SUNA said.

The meeting is to last till May 2nd in closed sessions and will be followed by a news conference for President Omer Al-Bashir and First Vice-President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

Meanwhile, the High Preparatory Committee for joint NC-SPLM meeting will hold a press conference at SUNA Press Forum on Saturday 29 April in which Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail will speak on behalf of NC while Deng Alor is to speak for SPLM.

The ruling National Congress party signed a comprehensive peace deal with the former rebel SPLM in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Jan. 9 to end a 22- year civil war.

The deal covers all the eight peace deals, including protocols on how to share power and natural wealth, what to do with armed forces during a six-year interim period, how to administer three disputed areas, and the latest on permanent ceasefire and modalities of implementing peace deals.

(ST)