Ali Othman, Garang resume their talks in friendly atmospheres
Sudan, Politics, 9/6/2003

SudanÕs (First) Vice-President, Ali Othman Muhammad Taha and the leader of the shouthern rebels, John Garang have resumed a unique meeting in an attempt to prevent the collapse the peace talks in order to end a civil war started 20 years ago.

The talks started later Thursday evening in Nifasha town, 90 Km to the west of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. An official attending the talks said it is was "close door meeting" noting that "the two men met without assistants." For its part, Sudanese dailies quoted a spokesman for the Sudanese government Sayed al-Khatib as saying that the bilateral meeting which brought together the two men was friendly and it lasted for three hours, while the minister for Cabinet affairs Nafe' Ali Nafe', member of the governmental delegation stressed that matters are developing in a satisfactory manner.

Garang had stressed upon his arrival in Nairobi yesterday that his group is committed to the peace process but he refrained from defining concessions that he might give in his talks with Taha.

He explained that the main differences are ways of sharing the authority including presidency and resources, especially oil. Replying to a question on whether the US is putting pressure on the two warring Sudanese sides to reach an agreement, Garang said that his group welcomes the contributions of foreign sides. He added "we are exposed to pressure from the Sudanese people. They want peace and we want peace." Peace talks stumbled in recent months after reaching a framework agreement since one year. The next round of talks is scheduled to start on September 10th.

On the other hand, the Sudanese government and the Sudan's liberation movement which is positioned in Northern Dar Four region, to the west of the country signed an agreement for halting fire and disarming the movement. The agreement which puts an end to the armed conflict between the government and the group was signed in Apche city in Chad under the auspices of President of Chad Idriss Deby.

Previous Stories:
  Decisive meeting between Garang and Sudanese vice president   (9/5/2003)
  Garang, Taha seek to give push forward the Sudanese peace talks   (9/4/2003)
  Secret negotiations in Chad between Khartoum and Dar Four rebellions   (9/3/2003)

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