Al-Ahram: On the wake of the Sudanese negotiations, Bashir suspects Garang's intention
Sudan, Politics, 8/11/2003

Upon resuming the peace negotiations, the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir announced that his government will not sign any unfair peace agreement with the southern rebels. He showed doubts on the intention of its leader John Garang.

In an interview issued yesterday with the Egyptian al-Ahram paper, Bashir said that his government which will resume today in Kenya peace negotiations with the rebels "is careful to reach a peace agreement." He expressed his hope that Garang will come "with good intentions." But he stressed that "if Justice is not ensured in the expected peace agreement between the two sides, his government will not sign it and will then resort to other alternatives." But he did not define the nature of these alternatives.

Replying to a question on the seriousness of the southern rebels to reach peace, Bashir said "a peace agreement can be only reached through sincerity, and determination and that any agreement is meaningless without the will of the two sides altogether. There is still doubts on Garang's efforts which always aim at provoking differences."

Replying to another question if he knows that Garang can be a partner in the government and to be appointed as a vice president in the coming phase in case a peace agreement is reached, Bashir said "if he comes to peace with an open mind, and we sign a peace agreement with him, then there will be nothing that would prevent such a partnership." Concerning the possibility of establishing peace by signing an agreement, Bashir stressed "yes, unless the mediators carry out a negative role obstructing the peace process, as they did during the past round of talks."

Hence the Sudanese President hinted the mediating side ( IGAD)'s document which was debated in July and called for the sharing of authority, resources and security issues during the transitional period which is expected to last for 6 years. Afterwards, Khartoum stressed that this document opens the door for the cessation of southern Sudan.

On the other hand, the Sudanese daily al-Rai al-Am said that Bashir notified members in political parties and civil society groups on Saturday that there are new measures including revision of a list in the names of political detainees. The main political detainee in Sudan is the Islamist Hassan al-Turabi.

The paper added that Bashir also promised to end monitoring of the mass media and to lift the state of emergency imposed since 1999 as soon as peace is achieved in Sudan. But he indicated that emergency will be lifted only in areas where peace is not threatened.

Previous Stories:
  Europe to join peace plan in Sudan   (8/9/2003)
  Syria and Sudan workers twinship agreement   (8/9/2003)
  Sudan: The Republic presidency adopts a party initiative on national reconciliation   (8/8/2003)

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