Sudan: cessation is a red line that we do not accept
Sudan, Politics, 7/23/2002

Khartoum stressed on Monday that the Nairobi agreement concluded by the People's Army For the Liberation of Sudan led by John Garang "does not mean" its approval for the separation of southern Sudan.

However, two Sudanese opposition parties expected the failure of the agreement because it was drawn without prior coordination with other southern Sudanese groups and main parties representing northern Sudan.

Meantime, and following a special meeting for the Cabinet, the Sudanese authorities called for "total cease fire and for ending the civil war," stressing its' commitment to the Nairobi agreement and the determination to "continue negotiations" in order to reach "permanent peace agreement."

The Sudanese cabinet also asked the ministries and establishments to "draw their plans and programs for the coming peace phase and its requirements." It called on "sides concerned" to carry out a diplomatic and media campaigns in order to explain the dimension of this agreement, and to attract more backing and support from the neighboring, sisterly and friendly countries and the world as a whole." The advisor for the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for peace affairs Ghazi Salah Eddine al-Atabani said -- replying to a question on an Egyptian reservation towards the Nairobi agreement -- "we have not received any reservation from Egypt and we are interested in the Egyptian position, and we do appreciate the Egyptians for their permanent stand in support of Sudan's unity in order to reach peace." Al-Atabani added following a meeting for the Sudanese cabinet during which it listened to a detailed report from him on the negotiations "We are also very interested in briefing them (the Egyptians) about any development in the peace process. We are confident of their support for the unity of the country and this is also applicable on our brothers in Libya and other Arab states."

Al-Atabani concluded by saying "we confirm our commitment to the Libyan- Egyptian joint initiative whenever it moves."

Qutbi al-Mahdi, the political advisor for the Sudanese President said in press statements that Nairobi's agreement which was finalized under IGAD's supervision does not mean the approval of the Sudanese government on the cessation of Sudan after 50 years of struggle to preserve Sudan's unity." He stressed that cessation is a "red line and there are talks on an optional unity for the people of southern Sudan." The official in the opposition democratic federal party Ali Mahmoud Hasanin, for his part, said that limiting the dialogue to the government and the Garang movement "will not lead to a permanent peace." He added that the party believes that other groups should take part in "a democratic dialogue to deal with reasons behind the eruption of the war."

Muhammad al-Amin Khaleifa the official at the people's national congress party, led by Sheikh Hassan al-Turabi, said that "the national people's will" was absent in Kenya. He said that "western forces were able to use its influence in pressuring the two sides to reach an agreement."

Khaleifa warned that the constitutional system of three layers ( one for the north, one for the south and one federal) will by the ultimate end leading for the partition of Sudan. He explained that the agreement will be fragile because it was reached without an agreement to cease fire.

On the other hand, the Egyptian acting deputy foreign minister for consulate affairs Hamid Ali said that the Egyptian and Sudanese authorities on Monday agreed to facilitate issuing of entry visas for the two states' citizens and to open new consulates for this purpose.

Previous Stories:
  Sudan agreement with rebels after 19 years of conflict   (7/22/2002)
  Al-Anbaa: Sudan government and Umma separatists reach agreement   (7/19/2002)
  Sudanese army overtakes rebel base   (7/18/2002)

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