Realization of peace is the most important event in Sudan history – al-Beshir
KHARTOUM, June 29, 2004 (SUNA) — President of the Republic Gen. Omer Al-Bashir pointed out that realization of peace was the most important event in Sudan after the nation’s Independence.
Addressing the Sudanese nation on the 15th anniversary of the National Salvation Revolution on Tuesday evening, President Al-Bashir said that realization of peace in Sudan has put the nation before a new challenge of development and rehabilitation, boosting peace and making voluntary unity the sole option for the Sudanese people.
He especially hailed the great sacrifices of the martyrs, the Armed Forces, and the other regular forces. He also lauded the role of the sister and friendly countries at the regional and international levels, the IGAD organization and Partners, the African Union, the European Union, the United States, the sister Arab and friendly countries, particularly sister Kenya with its President, people and government for their sponsoring and hosting to Sudan peace negotiations till they achieved success.
President Al-Bashir reiterated the government commitment to implement in full the peace agreement, adding that the government welcomes its partners in peace agreement as partners in responsibility for the re-building of Sudan and realization of its development.
He stressed the government keenness to launch a national and honest dialogue with all the political forces in and outside Sudan for bolstering the implementation of the peace agreement through a comprehensive national charter, calling on all the society’s forces, organizations, institutions and categories to live up to their role for the re-building of the strong and united Sudan, which is rich with its values, morals, experiences and resources.
President Al-Bashir has called on the international community and its organizations and institutions to contribute as partners for the development and rehabilitation in Sudan and the war-affected areas. He also called for releasing of Sudan’s financial dues and its drawing rights.
He said that a new war front was opened in Darfur while Sudan is about to achieve peace in south Sudan, despite the fact that the Salvation Revolution has been working seriously since its advent for removing all aspects of backwardness and neglection and realizing development all over the country and in all fields.
President Al-Bashir said that the war erupted in Darfur without any ethical or national justification, a matter which resulted in the violation of laws and destruction of public utilities, terrorizing of citizens and looting of their properties.
He said that the state from the beginning has attempted to quell the war in Darfur and declared amnesty for the arms-holders, abided by cease-fire, led a political dialogue through Chadian mediation and made other contacts toward putting an end to the problem, besides adopting a host of security measures, approving implementation of a number of development and services projects as well as exerting serious efforts to maintain the social fabric and to restore the peaceful tribal co-existence in Darfur.
He indicated that the state has lived up to its role for denuding the foreign attempts to internationalize and fuel Darfur crisis and to circulate the false allegation against Sudan, despite the violations of the rebellion factions to the cease-fire, their aggressions on the humanitarian aid convoys and workers as well as the exchange of fight between the tribal militias and their burning and looting to properties of the citizens.
President Al-Bashir said that the acts in Darfur resulted in a security and humanitarian situation in which the innocent citizen of Darfur, whatever his tribe and geographical location, was the looser.
He referred to the Presidential Political Declaration which was issued early last week toward containing the situation in Darfur, which was based on the firm government commitment to its duty for keeping security and protecting the citizens and their properties, explaining that the state has actually began procedure to upgrade the efficiency and capabilities of the organs which are concerned with keeping security and public safety.
He asserted the state’s commitment to implement the Presidential Declaration on Darfur regarding serious application of the rule of law and justice, adherence to the cease-fire and guaranteeing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the affected people in Darfur. He said that the state will cooperate with the international organizations and donors, and will boost the administrative, technical and security measures to secure the arrival of humanitarian aid to the needy during the rainy season.
He said that the state’s plan aims also to enabling the citizens, who desire, to return to their villages so as to cultivate in the rainy season, adding that measures had been adopted to secure the return of citizens to their villages and to provide seed and production inputs for them.
He said that the state’s plan is also based on the maintaining of social fabric in Darfur and holding and continuing dialogue with all in and outside Sudan till convocation of the Comprehensive Conference on Darfur, referring to the naming of a special representative of the President of the Republic for Darfur with extensive authorities.
President Al-Bashir said that he will follow up the implementation of the Political Declaration on Darfur issue till the end of the war and the opening of a new chapter of peace, development and social fraternity in Darfur.
He said that throughout its march of the past 15 years, the Salvation government was able to lay down the bases for development in the country in the fields of human development and infrastructures, and realized expansion in the field of general and higher education, progress in the utilization of modern telecommunication and technology, development in the processing industry and exports fields, as well as establishment of national and internal roads’ networks, construction of new electricity power stations and exploration and exportation of the Sudanese oil.
President Al-Bashir pointed out that the state has worked out plans for women development, children welfare, besides the issuance of legislations for boosting the role of the civil society’s organizations and elevating the lofty values of Takaful (solidarity) and tolerance. In the field of foreign relations, he said that Sudan has made wide strides toward enhancing and consolidating its relations with most countries and the international organizations, adding that Sudan has assumed prominent leading role at the regional level, and participated effectively at international forums.
President Al-Bashir pointed out that the plans and programmes of the state for the coming period will be based on the directives of elevating the lofty values of religion, respect of the cultural diversity and the social norms in compliance with the Peace Agreement and the Constitution, adherence to the principles of Shura (consultation) and democracy in handling all the affairs of the state, more commitment to the scientific methodology and objectivity with regard to planning and enhancement of the performance, extending more support to the social and cultural sectors, concentration on the establishment of infrastructures and support to the economic development and production, encouragement to the public opinion forums, respect of the rule of law and the private and public rights.
In his address, President Al-Bashir welcomed the visits to Sudan by the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, and the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan. He also welcomed the Member of the Libyan Historic Leadership Abu-Bakr Younis Jaber.