SPLM to stick to three regions’ right to self-determination

By Al-Sahafah daily newspaper

KHARTOUM, Jan 21, 2004 — The government and the SPLM [Sudan People’s Liberation Movement], have agreed to set up a joint committee from the two negotiating delegations, to resolve the issues of police and security in the Nuba mountains and southern Blue Nile regions. [Passage omitted]

In a statement to Al-Sahafah, an SPLM source said the movement was sticking to the three regions’ right to self-determination, contrary to what had been reported on the SPLM dropping its demands.

The source explained that Abyei still represented an obstacle vis- a-vis the two negotiating parties.

It pointed out that the current round of talks would be suspended on Thursday [22 January], and the two delegations would issue a communique, illustrating the outcome of the current round of talks, as well as fixing a date for their resumption.

The sources said the two parties had agreed on forming a committee to settle the issues of police and security in the Nuba mountains and southern Blue Nile regions.

The same sources added that talks had achieved satisfactory progress but differences of opinion were still profound.

BBC Monitoring Middle East