Sudanese al-Bashir, Garang to open constitutional talks

KHARTOUM, Apr 29, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — Sudanese president Al-Bashir will tomorrow evening address the opening session of the meetings of the National Constitutional Review Commission, at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum. Sudan People’s Liberation Movement leader John Garang will also address the conference by telephone.

SPLM leader John Garang (left) shakes hands with Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir (right), in the presence of Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki (centre) Wednesday April 2, 2003.

The meeting will be attended by a number of civil society representatives, as well as observers.

The political secretary of the ruling National Congress (NC)and member of the six-party committee of the Constitutional Commission, Majdhub al-Khalifah, told Suna that arrangements for the commencement of the committees’ works, which are scheduled to last three weeks, had now been completed.

He explained that the task of the Constitutional Commission would be to set up general meetings on the peace agreement and procedures to be followed by the Commission.

He further said the Commission would move first with all its members to Rumbek to continue its works, before completing its works later in Khartoum.

With regard to the opposition National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) participation in the constitutional talks under the proviso of a final agreement with Khartoum, Al-Khalifah said the government was ready to sign the agreement and hoped that the NDA would take part in the talks.

He added that the NDA’s participation was regarded as a dialogue open to all Sudanese, as individuals or political parties.