AU Welcomes Resumption of Negotiations By Sudanese Parties

AU Welcomes Resumption of Negotiations By Sudanese Parties

The AU Commission Chairperson, Dr Jean Ping, has welcomed the decision by the Sudanese parties to resume negotiations on post-referendum and other outstanding issues under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

Post-referendum

Ping said that the March 17 meeting in Khartoum under the aegis of African Union High Level Implementation Panel indicated that both the National Unity Government of Sudan and the Government of South Sudan were committed to negotiations.

In a statement in Addis Ababa, he described as heart-warming the way the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement addressed the tension that had arisen between the parties recently.

Resumption of the negotiations

"In particular, I wish to congratulate the Excellencies, President Omar Hassan al-Bashir and First Vice-President Salva Mayardit for the leadership they have demonstrated. This made it possible to quickly reach an agreement for the resumption of the negotiations and the establishment of mechanisms to resolve the security concerns that had led to the suspension of dialogue,'' Ping said.

He urged the parties to continue to work with the panel to complete the implementation of all outstanding CPA provisions and to finally resolve the issue of Abyei within the remaining period.

AU's commitment

Ping was quoted as reiterating the AU's commitment to support the parties in their effort to resolve the outstanding issues between them.

He expressed optimism that in spite of the many difficult decisions confronting the two sides, they had the capacity to meet the challenges ahead and establish two viable and stable Sudanese states.

NAN/Margaret/Ekata