Sudanese official terms peace talks with SPLA as “successful”
KHARTOUM, Oct 16, 2004 (Xinhua) — A Sudanese official on Saturday termed as “successful” talks between the government and the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.
Speaking to reporters upon his return, Sayid El-Khatib, spokesman of the government’s delegation, said that Sudanese Vice President Ali Othman Taha had good talks with John Garang, the SPLAleader, which ended in Nairobi earlier in the day.
“The two sides discussed the issue of a ceasefire between the government and the SPLA and four other issues, including offering supplies to the SPLA and other armed groups,” Khatib said.
Concerning the state of other armed groups, he affirmed a mutualunderstanding on the issue.
“This issue is essential, however, the difference is when and how to acquire these forces in military forces of either side in accordance with an agreement on security arrangements,” he said.
“Our stance is that these groups are important for peace and should not be ignored in the peace process,” he said, noting that this problem must be solved with wisdom.
He said that the SPLA believes that these groups must be demobilized soon.
Concerning supplies to the SPLA, he said, “the demand of supplies for the SPLA is unacceptable unless a joint leadership is established.”
He said that the two sides would resume negotiations after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in mid-November, adding that the technical committee is still negotiating details of pending issues.
He said that the Sudanese government welcomed a meeting to be held by the United Nations Security Council in Nairobi next month to discuss the peace process in Sudan.
“We hope this meeting will give impetus to the peace process in Sudan,” he said.
The Sudanese government and the SPLA resumed talks on Oct. 7 andadjourned them nine days later after resolving most of outstanding issues.
“The discussions between the parties were in a cordial and frankatmosphere and have resolved most of the outstanding issues,paving the way to the comprehensive peace agreement on the Sudan conflict,” Kenyan chief mediator to the talks Lazarus Sumbeiywo told a news conference.
The Sudanese government and the SPLA began peace talks in Kenya in March 1994, under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, a seven-member regional group in east Africa, consisting of Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan.
On May 26, the parties signed key peace protocols in the Kenyan town of Naivasha, bringing them closer to peace.
The conflict in southern Sudan broke out in 1983 when rebels took up arms against the government to demand greater autonomy for the south.