African mediators receives views of Sudan govt, Darfur rebels

ABUJA, Nigeria, Oct 31, 2004 (SUNA) — The negotiation secretariat at Abuja Sunday received the views of the government and Darfur rebels and their final responses on draft security protocol. The secretariat also discussed with each of the two parties their proposals concerning the political protocol.

Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim, spokeman of the Sudanese government delegation to the peace talks, speaks to journalists at venue of the talks in Abuja, Nigeria, Oct. 28, 2004.

In a statement to SUNA, spokesman of the government delegation for Abuja negotiations, Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim, said that the negotiation secretariat met with the government delegation and discussed the government party’s vision regarding the political axis, adding that the secretariat also met with rebels’ party for the same purpose.

He said that the negotiation secretariat’s dialogue with the two parties aims to achieve general principles for the political solution, adding that this dialogue is being conducted simultaneously on the political and security tracks.

Ibrahim said that the government delegation has delivered to the Secretariat its final view on the Security Protocol’s draft.

He indicated that the government response has received appreciation from all, contrary to the view of the rebels’ party which was not appreciated by the African Union, the European Union, the United States as well as the delegation of Darfur region’s dignitaries which arrived in Abuja from Tripoli.

Ibrahim said that the rebels’ view on the security protocol was unacceptable and included their call for withdrawal of the Armed Forces to the headquarters of the three states of Darfur, imposing a ban on aviation and formation of a joint mechanism of the government, the African Union, European Union and the United States to disarm the Janjiweed.

He said that the rebels’ stance did not receive acceptance of any circle, because it did not cope with the resolutions of the United Nations and the African Union on Darfur issue, adding that the government rejected this view because it poses intervention in the internal affairs of Sudan.

Ibrahim said that the views of the government and Darfur rebels were identical by 80% concerning general principles and broad lines of the political axis, on ground that the details in this connection will be discussed at the Comprehensive Conference on Darfur.

The government delegation’s spokesman hoped that pressures of the mediators and observers will compel Darfur rebels’ party to abandon its unacceptable views on the security protocol.