South Sudan envoy in Cairo meets Belgian counselor
By Roba Gibia
August 5, 2007 (CAIRO) — Parmena Makuet, GoSS Head of Mission in Cairo, met today August 5, 2007 in his office Ivan Feys, Counselor, Embassy of Belgium to Egypt. The two men discussed various issues pertaining to the bilateral relations between Belgium and Government of Southern Sudan.
The Belgian Counselor told Makuet that Belgium has been channeling funds to Sudan through humanitarian organizations such as UN to Darfur and Southern Sudan, and praised the stand of Sudan in accepting the mixed UN and AU forces to Darfur to end the plight of civilians in the region.
Early, the Belgium Government donated 100 computers to Juba University and Ministry of Regional Cooperation, Government of Southern Sudan. According to Feys, as this is too small project, he requested GoSS Head of Mission in Cairo to find a private computer company or computer expert to install the software before commencement of the next academic year, as well as to offer computer training to the students under the expenses of Belgian Government.
Parmena raised the issue of voluntary repatriation of southern Sudanese in Egypt and stressed that there are many people who are willing to return today to Southern Sudan rather than tomorrow. And have registered more than 250 families and singles to be repatriated, but due to lack of fund he could not make it. And he pointed out that he is now trying to have contacts with friends of Southern Sudan to assist in this regard.
He also briefed Belgian Counselor about the general political situation in Sudan and in particular the redeployment of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Sudan People’s Liberation Armey (SPLA) forces in their respective locations, and the elapse of the deadline for redeployment and its consequences on the ground. As according to the comprehensive peace agreement the Joint Integrated Units is to be the only forces in the oil production areas.
They also discussed the controversial issue of Abyei protocol and boundary demarcation between north and south as it stood in 1956. On the other hand, the Head of Mission briefed the Belgian diplomat about the forthcoming census and general elections, saying that due to some factors, the census will likely delay which will eventually affect the general elections, as the election law has not yet been adopted. But the Head of Mission expressed his confidence that if the elections were held in fairly and freely, the SPLM will sweep the elections allover the Sudan if Darfur were to be in peace. Saying that SPLM have moved its headquarters to Khartoum in order to address the national issues from the capital, because SPLM doesn’t belong to the south only but the whole of Sudan.
Feys and Makuet discussed the status of GoSS Liaison Office and its relationship with Sudan Embassy in Cairo. Feys pointed out that the Belgium government is trying to see as how to incorporate the GoSS Liaison Office in Brussels into their law.
(ST)