Peace will be achieved before end of year, first vice-president

By Sudanese radio

KHARTOUM, Nov. 30, 2003 — The first vice-president, Ali Uthman Muhammad Taha, has affirmed the government’s desire and commitment to achieve a comprehensive and just peace, saying peace is a strategic option for the country.

He added that the government was not entering this round [of peace talks] with the mentality of sheep-sharing [last four sentence as heard], but to determine the interests of all the Sudanese people.

The first-vice president declared to the president that peace would be achieved before the end of this year if facts were approached objectively without hindrance.

He affirmed the need to base the forthcoming peace agreement on facts, giving everyone his or her rights, while making provisions to accord these rights urgent protection through institutions and law.

BBC Monitoring Middle East