Chad: Sudan urges to take causes of deals failure into account

July 3, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese president said today any deal to mend relations with the neighboring Chad should take in accoount the reasons behind failure of the precedent agreements.

Sudan announced yesterday its acceptance of an initiative to reconcile the Sudanese and Chadian presidents amid statements by president Idris Deby saying he had rejected to meet with Bashir because he does not honor deals he inks.

In a press conference held with the visiting Congolese President, Omer al-Bashir stressed that any agreement with Chad must result in a cessation of hostilities and non interference in the internal affairs of Sudan, particularly with the rebel groups in Darfur.

He further said that it is important to take into consideration the precedent agreements and why they have failed.

The Sudanese authorities consider the ethnic group of president Deby, the Zaggawa, responsible of the failure of the signed agreements. They accuse the Zaggawa Kobé of supporting the Justice and Equality Movement.

However, al-Bashir expressed appreciation for the mediation of President Denis Sassou Nguesso. He said confident in his aptitude to end the tension between the two country.

Relations between Chad and Sudan have been difficult for more than four years with the two countries regularly accusing each other of supporting rebel factions fighting against their respective regimes.

Different attempts to end the tension between Chad and Sudan have failed and both accuse each other of being behind the failure.

However, western observers say this situation seems pleasant with Chad and Sudan because Deby does not want to concede and democratize his regime while Sudanese ruling party does not want the Darfur rebels take part in the forthcoming elections.

Diplomatic relations broke off in mid-May after an attack near the Sudan capital Khartoum by a Darfur rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement. Ndjamena denied any involvement.

(ST)