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Sudan Tribune

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Sudanese government, JEM rebels hold first meeting on pending issues

April 24, 2011 (DOHA) — Three days before a final draft peace agreement, the mediation organized a first meeting between the government and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) to discuss the pending issues in the peace talks.

Darfur status, wealth sharing and security arrangements are among the issues that JEM rebels said they want direct talks on it before to sign a peace agreement. Last week JEM refused to meet with the government asking the mediation discuss on the agenda before to start direct discussions with the Sudanese delegation.

“We proposed to start direct talks with the most important issues and to tackle the less important matters at the end, said JEM spokesperson Jibreel Adam Bilal after the meeting. “We also asked to form four committees to work simultaneously,” he added.

Jibreel said that they reiterated a demand filed to the mediation since 45 days to bring a rebel delegation from the field in Darfur. “We need them to participate in the talks, their presence is important for us,” he stressed.

The mediation announced last week it would submit on 27 April, a draft peace agreement for the “final consideration” of the three parties : the government, the Liberation and Justice Movement and JEM.

The mediation team suggested to hold another meeting on Monday where it pledged to hand a proposal of the agenda.

The Sudanese delegation told the meeting they have to consult before to hold direct talks on the disputed issues as they are waiting for the 27 April draft agreement.

Asked to comment on the meeting, JEM chief negotiator Ahemd Tugud told Sudan Tribune that the government team left the impression they are not disposed to hold direct talks on the remaining issues.

“They understand that the 27 April document is final and not susceptible to discussion,” Tugud said. “We believe that the draft agreement is open to discussions and starting talks now will allow us to achieve significant progress,” he stressed.

JEM says the issue of the administrative status of Darfur region should be agreed in Doha and not decided through a referendum as the government intends to.

The Sudan electoral board said today that the vote on Darfur territorial status will take place on 1 July.

(ST)

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