Sudan optimistic about year-end peace agreement : minister

GENEVA, Dec 11 (AFP) — Sudan is “very optimistic” that a peace agreement to end the country’s 20 year civil war can be concluded by the end of the year, a government minister said Thursday. Information minister and government spokesman, Elzahwi Ibrahim Malik, said Khartoum and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement (SPLM) were driving forward with peace talks in Kenya.

“The reason we are very optimistic about achieving it this year is that the literature is there,” he said, referring to deals outlined at previous rounds of negotiations. Malik’s commments echoed similar optimism expressed this week by US officials, who said a “global agreement” could be struck before Dec. 25.

Malik acknowledged that some aspects of wealth- and power-sharing were proving to be tricky, but he indicated that a deal could come about swiftly by setting aside some of the details.

“We don’t think everything will be settled absolutely. We are looking for what will join us, not for the things that will split us,” he told journalists in Geneva. The Sudanese minister insisted that he had high hopes that the current round of talks in Kenya would be the last.

“I hope what (SPLA leader) John Garang hoped, that before the end of the year we can find an agreement,” Malik said, blaming delays on external pressures.

Sudan was looking to the example of other countries to find solutions in the two key areas of wealth- and power-sharing, notably India’s federal structure.