Sudan’s NC, SPLM hold first joint meeting next week

April 29, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan’s government of National Unity main partners, the ruling National Congress (NC) and the former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) are to meet on 4 May.

The joint meeting, which is considered the first of its kind between the two partners at this level, is to discuss means of boosting the partnership between the NC and the SPLM established by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

President of the Republic and Chairman of the ruling National Congress (NC) Omar al-Bashir and First Vice-President and Chairman of the Politburo of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Salva Kiir Mayardit are to address the first joint meeting of the Leadership Office of the NC and Politburo of the SPLM at the Friendship Hall here next Thursday 4 May.

Al-Bashir and Mayardit will hold a press conference at the Friendship Hall on Friday 5 May at the conclusion of the joint meeting.

The Leadership Office of the NC discussed in its extraordinary meeting Saturday, which was chaired by Deputy Chairman of the National Congress Nafie Ali Nafie, final preparations for its coming meeting with the Politburo of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) on May 4-5.

Following the meeting, Nafie pointed out in a press statement that the meeting discussed preparations for the dialogue on the partnership and the situation of implementation of the peace agreement in all fields.

(ST)