Agreement on wealth sharing to be “signed before Christmas”
By Sudanese TV
KHARTOUM, Dec 21, 2003 — Talks between the government and the [Sudan] People’s [Liberation] Movement [SPLM] continue in Naivasha [in Kenya]. The two parties completed the final document concerning the file of wealth in order to be signed.
The joint technical committee in charge of the three regions also met. The committee is currently preparing a report to be presented to the first vice-president of the republic [Ali Uthman Muhammad Taha] and to the SPLM leader [John Garang]. For more details on these two files, we have with us our correspondent in Naivasha Mamun Uthman:
[News presenter] Greetings Mamun! According to what was broadcast at the beginning of this news bulletin, the two parties have completed the preparation of the final document with regard to the file of wealth. We wish to know the latest developments on this subject and what are the main points of the document?
[Uthman] Welcome brother Umar al-Bighali and greetings to you and to respectable listeners inside and outside Sudan. Yes, as we have heard at the beginning of the news bulletin, all the remaining issues regarding the file of wealth have been completed. The two sides have completed the preparation of the final document in order to be signed. The document will be presented to the two sides, the first vice-president and the [Sudan People’s Liberation] Movement leader.
The main points in the document include principles for the sharing of the revenues which were mentioned in the Karim [as heard] document. The document also includes the issue of sharing of revenues between the central government and the southern regional government. The document deals with the proposed mechanisms and funds for national development and regions affected by war. Meanwhile, the mechanisms include the commission in charge of distributing revenues. This is a central mechanism in charge of distributing revenues according to the agreement.
The document defines taxes for the central government, provincial governments and the southern regional government. It also includes ways of dealing with a unified currency through one central bank, with a branch for this bank in the southern provinces.
The document also deals with oil revenues and the proportions to be distributed in a way to protect the rights of everyone. A proportion [of the oil revenues] was earmarked for the development of the [oil] producing regions within the sum allotted to the southern provinces.
Brother Umar, there is optimism for the signing, in principle, of this document – the document of wealth – before Christmas, God willing.
[Umar] God willing and happy new year. Brother Mamun, in fact the news said that the two sides had started in dealing with the file of the three regions. Can you tells us something about this issue?
[Umar] Regarding the file of the three regions, the technical committee in charge of the three regions has met for five hours and prepared a report to be presented to the first vice-president and the [Southern People’s Liberation] Movement’s leader. There is also optimism that this file would be signed before Christmas, God willing.
Brother Umar, these talks will continue without a time limit. There is optimism that the two files, wealth and the three regions, would be endorsed in principle before Christmas.
[Umar] Thank you our correspondent in Naivasha, brother Mamun Uthman.
BBC Monitoring Middle East