Khartoum-Mohammed Abdallah
The Advisor to the President of the Republic, Dr. Ghazi Salah Addeen described incentives indicated in US new strategy as unsuccessful, adding that Sudan government calls for rights not charity work from anyone, stating that normal relations between the two countries is a natural right if there is willingness.
Salah Addeen said that they were committed to their rights but were not keen on incentives. He added that the subject of incentives had not been discussed yet.
He said this in press statements yesterday at the premises of the Ministry of Federal Rule following his meeting with US special envoy Scott Gration. Salah Addeen disclosed that he discussed with the US envoy situations in general, especially matters regarding Comprehensive Peace Agreement and noted difficulties facing the government, especially under the absence of a real partner.
Salah Addeen indicated SPLM withdrawal from the Parliament and the cabinet, describing such a step as a political withdrawal from the theater in a regular fashion.
Salah Addeen expressed his worry about recent statements of SPLM chairman, Salva Kiir Mayardit describing them as "not encouraging". He said they had explained to the US envoy that such statements would not deliver the obligations for peace.
The advisor stated that Comprehensive Peace Agreement could not be implemented by one party but all parties should be committed to the agreement. Regarding contentious issues like referendum and population census, Salah Addeen said that the US envoy had always come up with proposals for solution but they looked into those proposals and fully discussed them.
He stated that the US envoy had discussed with him the differed-over-issues namely, referendum, population census, elections. Regarding a call for separation by SPLM leaders, he said for them they were a unionist force.
He added that the agreement had called on the two parties to opt for unity, saying encouraging secession is renege on the agreement. Salah Addeen indicated that there was another southern force in favor of unity option if they had the freedom to express that. "It is bigger than SPLM," said Salah Addeen.
He added that the recent statements conflicted with the crust of the agreement. On his part, the US envoy Scott Gration described his talks with Dr. Ghazi Salah Addeen as positive and useful. He said that they frankly talked about pending issues with regard to Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the conflict in Darfur, in addition to US new strategy and how to work together to achieve that.
He added that the strategy contained three elements: Darfur issue, Comprehensive Peace Agreement, referendum, elections, security and the issue of terrorism. Gration concluded, "We have to continue discussions on these issues to arrive at solutions."
