Sudanese vice-president tables peace pact before parliament

KHARTOUM, Jan 15, 2005 (Sudanese radio) — The first vice-president of the republic, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, has reiterated that the stipulations on wealth-sharing in the comprehensive peace agreement were based on measures which ensured implementation of justice, promotion of production and balanced economic growth.

Sudanese First Vice President Ali Osman Taha at the UN Security Council special session in Nairobi November 19, 2004. (AP).

While tabling the peace agreement before the National Assembly, Taha said Sudan was now open to foreign investment, pointing to government readiness to establish successful trade partnerships with fraternal and friendly countries.

The first vice-president explained the protocols of the peace agreement, calling on the Sudanese people not to be hasty in pre-empting the outcome of the agreement and not to be pessimistic, saying national issues require a lot of patience.

He said the agreement was able to answer many questions concerning the future, symbolized in the approving what is acceptable in defining identity and citizenship. He further said the agreement laid foundations for freedom of worship and peaceful co-existence among religions.

Concerning the three regions — Nuba mountains, Southern Blue Nile and Abyei– the first vice president of the republic warned against misusing the agreement in propagating tribal conflict among people of one nation. Taha further said the government, the ruling party and the SPLM will exert more efforts in explaining the objectives of the agreement.

Meanwhile, the session was addressed by the secretary of the Egyptian parliament, Mohammd Rashid, who conveyed congratulations from the Egyptian people to Sudan for the signing of the peace agreement, saying the agreement symbolized a new era in the Sudanese history and was a model to be followed in establishing national unity and overcoming disputes among people of one nation.

Material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service.