Sudanese Govt, opposition NDA agree agenda for future direct talks
By BBC Monitoring Service
OMDURMAN, Aug 30, 2004 (Sudanese Radio) — The Sudanese government and opposition National Development Alliance [NDA] have agreed that Sudan’s problems can only be resolved through a “comprehensive” political solution with the participation of all political forces. In a statement broadcast on Sudanese radio, a spokesman said the two sides agreed an agenda for direct talks in Cairo in late September 2004 to discuss, among other things, steps to introduce democratic change and protect the country unity. The two sides agreed to work together to resolve the Darfur problem, and said it would be discussed further in the light of the African Union current efforts. The following is the text of a report by the radio on 30 August:
[Presenter] At the end of the procedural talks between the government and [opposition] National Development Alliance [NDA] delegations, which begun in Cairo on Tuesday [24 August], the two sides have agreed to hold another round of talks at the leadership level in the last week of September 2004.
In a joint statement, the two sides also agreed that the terms of reference of the talks between the two parties are based on the Jedda framework agreement and the [Naivasha] peace framework agreement which was signed between the government and the [rebels] people’s movement [Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, SPLM].
The statement stressed that the two sides’ common objective is to reach a just and comprehensive political solution on the all issues facing the country.
Najra Adam Umar reports from Cairo:
[Umar – recording] The Jedda agreement that was signed by First Vice-President Ali Uthman Muhammad Taha and NDA Chairman Muhammad Uthman al-Mirghani, and the agreements that were signed between the government and the SPLM i.e. the six protocols, were the terms of reference of the Cairo talks which started last Tuesday [24 August] and continued over six days between the government delegation, led by Minister of Federal Administration Office Dr Nafi Ali Nafi and NDA delegation led by Vice-Chairman (rtd) Maj-Gen Abd-al-Rahman Sa’id.
Following the talks, the two sides held a joint press conference during which the two delegations’ heads stressed that the spirit which prevailed over the talks indicate that an agreement might be reached by the end of September; and that this is the first time the two sides have agreed on the need to find a specific framework that would make the next round of talks more serious. The text of the statement is as follows:
[unidentified spokesman] Agreement on the procedural round of talks between the Sudanese government and the NDA delegation.
The two sides agree the terms of reference of the negotiations between the two sides will be based on the Jedda framework agreement and the [Naivasha] peace protocols between the government and the SPLM. Their common objective is to find comprehensive political solution;
The two sides reiterate their conviction that peace and stability in Sudan cannot be achieved save through a comprehensive peaceful settlement with the participation of all the Sudanese political forces;
The two sides underline their commitments to work together towards finding a political solution for the Darfur problem, and to discuss it in the light of the current African Union efforts;
The two sides underline the need to work towards resolving the problems of refugees and displaced people;
The two sides discussed the necessary procedural steps to make future talks successful; and in order to carry our further talks, they have agreed to set up a joint committee out of which the following sub-committees will be set up:
1. A Constitutional Affairs Committee
2. A Political Affairs Committee
3. An Economic Affairs Committee
5. A Resolution Committee
The two sides agree to begin direct talks in Cairo in the last week of September 2004 with the following agenda:
1. Steps will be taken towards democratic change
2. Joint efforts to protect the country voluntarily unity
3. Constitutional affairs
3.1 Freedoms and human rights
3.2 Independence of the judiciary and the rule of law
3.3 Interim constitution
3.4 Government structures
4. Elections
5. Decentralization
6. Pan-Sudanese civil service
7. Pan-Sudanese nature of the armed forces, as well as other regular forces and security apparatuses
8. Economic policy
9. Balanced development
10. Situation in east of Sudan
11. Interim administration structures
11.1 Broad-based government and other interim administration structures
11.2 Commissions agreed upon in Naivasha
12. Removal of injustice and paying compensation
13. Negotiations will be the basis of resolving all the issues facing the DNA bodies;
The Sudanese government and the NDA would like to express their gratitude to HE President Muhammad Husni Mubarak, and to the government and people of sister Egypt for their interest in Sudan’s affairs.