Taha reportedly says pact to be signed in Kenya, celebrated in Washington

By Sudanese opposition National Democratic Alliance radio

Jan 10, 2004 — The deputy of [President of the republic Staff Lt-Gen Umar] Al- Bashir, [First Vice-President] Ali Uthman Muhammad Taha, did not rule out that the peace talks and the signing of the final [peace] agreement would be moved to Washington [USA].

In statements reported yesterday from Nairobi [Kenya] by a number of Sudanese papers], Taha said Kenya is the venue of the talks, and if God facilitates and a peace agreement was reached, the signing would be done in Kenya, because it has a right. He said the IGAD [Inter-Governmental Authority on Development]’s leaders also should witness the signing.

Regarding the reference to USA’s concern that the signing of the agreement be done in Washington, since it is now desiring peace and has become a force in boosting the peace [process], he [Taha] said Washington has a right to a share in the political success. He said the signing would be in Kenya and the celebrations in Washington.

Asked whether the talks would be moved to Khartoum, Taha said this would take place after the signing of the agreement and that Khartoum would be the main arena of implementation.

BBC Monitoring Middle East