Moussa discusses Sudanese reconciliation with Garang, Merghani
Egypt-Sudan, Politics, 5/10/2000

Foreign Minister Amr Moussa Tuesday said that Cairo's meetings with members of Sudanese government and opposition aimed at forging reconciliation in Sudan, according to the principles of the Egyptian-Libyan initiative.

Moussa said Garang, was one of the key groupings in south Sudan, adding that the peace proposals launched by Egypt and Libya on the one hand and that of the Inter-Government Authority for Development (IGAD) on the other were not antithetical.

In reply to a question on the latest developments in Khartoum, Moussa said that Egypt was following up the situation there. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir Saturday suspended his rival Hassan al-Turabi as secretary-general of the ruling National Congress Party.

Egypt denied any Egyptian pressure on Sudanese opposition to start direct talks with the government. "Egypt is interested that things move towards reconciliation," he said.

"The latest developments in Khartoum are important and worth of following and discussing with Sudanese brethren of different political leanings."

Moussa convenes with Garang

Moussa Tuesday held a meeting with John Garang, leader of the Southern Sudan People's Liberation Movement, currently on a visit to Egypt.

Emerging from the meeting, Garang said that he discussed with Moussa the latest developments in Sudan.

Garang added that he informed Moussa that the Movement suspended its participation in the next round of IGAD negotiations to protest against the Sudanese government's bombing of civilian targets in the Movement-controlled areas in south Sudan, Nubia mountains and east Sudan.

Asked whether the Movement backed the Egyptian-Libyan initiative, Garang said that the National Democratic Alliance, of which the Movement is a member, endorsed the initiative's goal of achieving reconciliation between the Sudanese government and opposition leaders.

"The movement has pressed for merging the two initiatives, the one offered by both Egypt and Libya and the other sponsored by IGAD, so that negotiations may move along a single track instead of two," he said.

Asked whether he believed that the Sudanese government was really moving towards a new Sudan, Garang believed that there was no change in Sudan's main policies.

On whether he opposed taking part in a conference for realizing reconciliation in Sudan which Egypt called for, Garang renewed his support of the Egyptian-Libyan initiative.

On the future of Sudanese National Alliance, Garang said that the Alliance became more consolidated and that it represented the will of the Sudanese people.

On the reported difference between the Movement and the Egyptian government over solving the Sudanese issue, Garang denied that such a difference never existed, stressing that both sides were in agreement as to the importance of developments in Khartoum and inside the ruling National Congress Party.

"We will continue to closely follow up what is going on in Sudan and we will act upon that," added Garang.

On accusations leveled against him that he was working for foreign powers and that he spoke one language in Cairo and a different one outside Egypt, Garang rubbished the charges which he believed came from Sudanese regime.

"My Movement is working for the good of the Sudanese people," stressed Garang.

Moussa also received late Tuesday leader of opposition Sudanese National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Mohammad Othman Al-Merghani.

Emerging from the meeting, Merghani said talks with Moussa were part of consultations on efforts to thrash out a comprehensive political solution to the Sudanese problem.

He added that the NDA was following up the situation in Khartoum.

"The NDA panel, charged with meeting the joint panel of the Egyptian-Libyan initiative on Sudan will convene early next week," he said.

Merghani, who doubles as leader of the Sudanese Unionist Party, paid tribute to the sincere efforts of President Hosni Mubarak and Libyan Leader Moammar Gaddafi.

Previous Stories:
  Garang, in Cairo, discusses coordination between initiatives to solve southern Sudan's problems   (5/9/2000)
  Moussa: The negotiation with the Sudanese opposition promise good things   (4/27/2000)
  Continuing Egyptian - Sudanese communications   (4/27/2000)

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