Sudan govt partners agree to discuss Abyei Saturday
Sept 2, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan National unity government partners agreed today to discuss the issue of Abyei region in the next meeting on Saturday 9 September, the official SUNA announced.
Leading member of the SPLM and head of the SPLM delegation at the joint NCP and SPLM political committee, Deng Alor, said that the meeting of the political committee which is scheduled to be convened at the SPLM Office next Saturday will discuss issues tabled before today’s meeting including Abyei issue, international forces and information.
Among four options, the two parties agreed to resolve Abyei issue within a political framework. They preferred it to the judiciary solution or the arbitrage of a third party. Also they abondonned the idea to summon members of Abyei commission to explain their report.
The central oil-rich territory of Abyei continues to be one of the main stumbling blocks in the north-south deal because of a dispute between the Arab Misariyah and African Dinka Ngok tribes over ownership of the region. The NCP also rejects Abyei Boundaries Commission’s report.
The political committee emanating from the Joint Higher Committee for Partnership between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) continued its meetings Saturday at SPLM headquarters in Khartoum. Ruling NCP deputy chairman for political and organizational affairs, Nafie Ali Nafie, chaired the NCP side, while the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Deng Alor, headed the SPLM side.
Nafie said in press statement that the meeting discussed a number of issues, top of them is Abeyi issue, coordination over laws that require amendment and the priorities to present them to the (National Assembly (parliament) as well as the relations within the legislative authority.
The meeting also discussed reports prepared by the joint political, economic and security Committees, indicating that agreement was reached to resume debate on pending issues next Saturday, Dr. Nafie said.
Alor said that the various committees would continue meetings Saturday and tomorrow to discuss the economic, security and political issues prior to presenting them before the next meeting of the committee.
Alor called for studying aspects of resolution n° 1706, referring to the differences in interpretation of the resolution between the government and US, indicating that the resolution is subject to interpretation, especially aspects regarding the consent of the government.
(ST)