Eritrea working hard Sudanese peace talks to succeed
Eritrea working hard Sudanese peace talks to succeed
By Eritrean Ministry of Information’s Shabait web site
ASMARA, Feb 24, 2004 — The peace negotiations between the Sudanese government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) resumed recently in Naivasha, Kenya, under the guidance of IGAD and international partners.
The new round of negotiations was initiated after the leadership council of the Sudanese National Democratic Alliance (NDA) concluded its regular meeting in Asmara. In this meeting, the NDA leadership council assessed previous peace negotiations and their achievements in order to get ready for a new round of negotiations.
The peace negotiations conducted so far have shown a big advance. Both parties have agreed on security arrangements and the allocation of national wealth and resources during the transition period. Still, for the negotiations at the Naivasha meeting, many unresolved issues await finalization. Agreement may be reached on the three marginalized areas. Nevertheless, the marginalized areas in the Sudan comprise not only three but several others. Each of them has its own demands. The developments witnessed recently in Darfour [western Sudan] area a tangible instance in this respect. It’s possible that the two parties reach agreement concerning power sharing during the transition period. Nonetheless, this issue of power sharing also concerns other parties not taking part in the current negotiations.
The Naivasha negotiations are, therefore, the first positive beginning for a comprehensive political solution to all the issues in the Sudan. Eritrea accepts this orientation in principle and it is working hard to make it a success.
Eritrea was the first country that put forward a proposal for the comprehensive political solution to the Sudanese problem. The Eritrean proposal was accepted by all parties of the Sudanese National Democratic Alliance. While not rejecting the proposal, the government of Sudan, has been reluctant in implementing it. In continuation of this, President Isayas Afewerki facilitated a meeting between the NDA Chairman Maulana Muhammad Uthman al-Mirghani and President Umar Hasan al-Bashir in Asmara.
Eritrea, more that any other of the parties has been able to play a negotiating role in the Sudanese problem. This has been due to the Eritrean relationship with all Sudanese factions and parties, arising out of the historical ties of the Eritrean and Sudanese peoples. The attitude of some who belittle Eritrea’s role in the comprehensive political resolutions of the Sudanese conflict notwithstanding, Eritrea will continue its positive role. Eritrea will not neglect its historical and moral obligations to the fraternal Sudanese people. In addition, to the individual initiatives, Eritrea, along with IGAD and other partners, is participating effectively in efforts to bring about comprehensive political solution to the Sudanese problem.
The prerequisite for development and prosperity in our region depends on peace and stability. Ensuring peace and stability in the Sudan is an indispensable component of this process. Realizing this fact, Eritrea will strive to achieve this goal for the following specific reasons, namely, Eritrea knows very well that ensuring peace and harmony in the Sudan is in the interest of Eritrea as well as that of the Sudanese people and the interest of all the peoples of the Horn of Africa.