UN welcomes SPLA pullout of Eastern Sudan Hamish Koreb

June 13, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The United Nations on Tuesday welcomed a withdrawal of the former Sudanese rebel forces of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) from Hamishkorieb in easternSudan.

The pullout, which was completed on Sunday, came as part of theoverall plan of the SPLA to vacate eastern Sudan and redeploy to the south.

In a statement issued in Khartoum on Tuesday, Jan Pronk, special representative of the UN secretary general in Sudan, welcomed the pullout, describing it as “another milestone in implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA)” which was signed in January 2005.

“We look forward to more of these landmark steps towards the full implementation of that historic peace accord that will ensuresustainable peace, stability and development for Sudan,” Pronk said.

He expressed hope that the forthcoming peace talks between the Sudanese government and eastern rebels begin with the necessary momentum to reach without delay a mutually acceptable outcome thatcould bring to that region lasting peace and sustainable development.

On Sunday, in a celebration ceremony in Hamishkorieb attended by Sudanese Government and SPLA officials and UN representatives, the SPLA handed the area over to the Civilian Administration of the Kassala State.

Government and SPLA officials addressed attendants of the ceremony, hailing this landmark step in implementing CPA and vowing to carry on the implementation effectively with goodwill.

The CPA had set a deadline for the SPLA to redeploy to the south by Jan. 9, 2006, but the deadline was missed mainly due to lack of logistical resources.

The SPLA has pulled out a battalion of 700 troops in 14 trucks.They have headed to Kassala as a first step before moving on to a southern location.

— 

Text of the press release

Khartoum on 12 June 2006 — The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) has pulled out of Hamishkorieb in Eastern Sudan amid ceremonies that were attended by senior officials and have included a military parade, speeches and large gatherings of local population.

The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) has monitored the operation as per its mandate under Security Council Resolution 1590 (2005).

The handing over of the area by SPLA to the Civilian Administration of the Kassala State was celebrated at a ceremony attended by Sudanese Government, SPLA officials and senior representatives of UNMIS.

Government and SPLA officials have addressed attendants of the ceremony, hailing this landmark step in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and vowing to carry on implementation of the agreement effectively and in goodwill.

The Special Representative of the United Nations’ Secretary-General in Sudan, Jan Pronk, welcomed the redeployment and expressed hope that the forthcoming peace talks on Eastern Sudan begin with the necessary momentum to reach without delay a mutually acceptable outcome that could bring to that region lasting peace and sustainable development.

“It is another milestone in making the CPA a reality, and we look forward to more of these landmark steps towards the full implementation of that historic peace accord that will ensure sustainable peace, stability and development for Sudan,” Pronk said.

The pullout, which was completed on 11 June, is part of the overall plan for the SPLA to vacate Eastern Sudan and redeploy to the South. The CPA had set a deadline for the SPLA to redeploy to the south of line 1-1-56 by 9 January 2006, but that deadline could not be met mainly due to lack of logistical resources available.

The SPLA has pulled out a battalion of 700 troops in 14 trucks. They have headed to Kassala as a first step before moving on to a southern location. Some SPLA troops have remained in Kotneb and Rassai in Eastern Sudan, and according to SPLA officials they will also be withdrawn to Kassala before the implementation of the redeployment of the SPLA to the south commences.

– For further information please contact Ms. Radhia Achouri, Spokesperson, UNMIS. Tel. (+249) 187 086 029 +) 249 ( 912 392 270 ; e-mail: [email protected]

(ST)