Khartoum seeks to contact SPLM-N over peace talks: Arman
September 11, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) said the Sudanese government sought recently to contact them through three countries, but reiterated the demand of his group for a comprehensive process to end the ongoing conflict in the Two Areas and Darfur.
The rebel leader denied statements published last Tuesday in Khartoum by the Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti saying his government would not negotiate with the SPLM-N but with the “people of the Two Areas” to implement the remaining issues in the peace agreement of 2005.
“Karti speaks of the Two Areas because he wants partial solutions. But the era of partial solutions have passed and the only possible solution is a comprehensive solution with the participation of everyone, through a constitutional conference and a new transitional arrangements”, Arman stressed.
Darfur groups who formed a rebel coalition with SPLM-N refuse also to hold talks with Khartoum over the ten-year conflict in western Sudan and demand a holistic solution for the two conflicts.
“Talks about the issues of Darfur and the Two Areas independently from the issues of Sudan will ultimately lead to the secession of new regions just like South Sudan”, Arman further said.
He reaffirmed that their priority remains the humanitarian situation in SPLM-N controlled zones in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.
Reports in Khartoum say the new US president special envoy for Sudan and South Sudan Donald Booth will visit Khartoum on Friday for consultations with the Sudanese officials over bilateral relations and the efforts of Obama’s administration to support the normalisation of bilateral relations between the two neighbours as well as achieving peace in Sudan.
However, the American embassy in Khartoum declined to confirm these reports when they were reached by Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.
SPLM-N secretary general said they have no planned meeting with Booth but he expressed their readiness to meet him soon.
He said that Booth has to be aware that Khartoum used to drag feet and to buy time with the seven former special envoys.
President Obama on 28 August announced the appointment of Donald Booth as new special envoy saying he would work actively for a durable and lasting peace between the two Sudans through the implementation of the cooperation agreements and resolution of the outstanding issues including disputed borders and Abyei.
Booth “will also lead our efforts to bring the conflicts in Blue Nile, Southern Kordofan, and Darfur to a peaceful end, and to promote inclusive governance and full respect for human rights in both states”, Obama said.
(ST)