DATE=7/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251916
TITLE=SUDAN TALKS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ALISHA RYU
DATELINE=NAIROBI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SUDAN'S MAIN REBEL GROUP SAYS IT IS EXTENDING A
CEASE-FIRE IN SOUTHERN SUDAN, FOR HUMANITARIAN REASONS. THE
ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AT THE START OF A NEW ROUND OF PEACE TALKS IN
NAIROBI. V-O-A'S ALISHA RYU REPORTS THAT DONOR NATIONS ARE
DEMANDING TO SEE MORE PROGRESS IN THE TALKS BETWEEN THE REBEL
GROUP AND THE KHARTOUM GOVERNMENT.
TEXT: THE SUDAN PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY [S-P-L-A] SAYS THE
THREE-MONTH CEASE FIRE WILL COVER THE WHOLE OF BAHR-EL-GHAZAL
REGION IN SOUTHWESTERN SUDAN AND UPPER NILE. THE S-P-L-A SAYS
THESE AREAS -- HIT HARD BY THE ON-GOING CONFLICT AND NATURAL
DISASTERS -- STILL NEED MUCH HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE. THE GROUP
URGED THE KHARTOUM GOVERNMENT TO ALSO OBSERVE THE CEASE FIRE.
BUT AS THE FIVE-DAY PEACE NEGOTIATIONS GOT UNDERWAY IN NAIROBI
TODAY (MONDAY), THE EUROPEAN PARTNERS OF THE SPONSORS OF THE
TALKS (-- A REGIONAL ALLIANCE KNOWN AS IGAD --) INDICATED WESTERN
DONORS WERE GETTING IMPATIENT WITH THE PACE OF THE TALKS.
THE ITALIAN AMBASSADOR TO KENYA -- ALBERTO BALBONI -- WARNED
FURTHER HUMANITARIAN AID TO SUDAN COULD BE AT RISK IF THE TWO
SIDES CONTINUE TO RESIST TAKING CONCRETE STEPS TOWARD PEACE.
/// BALBONI ACT ///
CURRENT LEVEL OF AID FLOW FROM THE DONOR COMMUNITY WOULD
BE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN WITHOUT TANGIBLE PROGRESS IN
THE NEGOTIATIONS.
/// END ACT ///
AN ESTIMATED TWO-MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE FIGHTING
AND RESULTING FAMINES SINCE THE CIVIL WAR BEGAN IN 1983. RELIEF
ORGANIZATIONS SAY RIGHT NOW, NEARLY A MILLION PEOPLE ARE FACING
STARVATION IN BAHR-EL-GHAZAL ALONE.
THE HEAD OF THE S-P-L-A DELEGATION -- SALVA KIIR -- TOLD
REPORTERS HIS GROUP WOULD LIKE TO END THE FIGHTING AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO HOLD A SOUTHERN SUDANESE REFERENDUM ON
SECESSION OR UNITY WITH THE REST OF SUDAN.
/// KIIR ACT ///
IF THERE IS A CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES, IF ALL THESE
THINGS ARE DONE AND PEOPLE GO FOR A REFERENDUM,
EVERYBODY WOULD KNOW THE DIRECTION OF WHAT TO DO.
/// END ACT ///
BOTH SIDES HAVE AGREED TO AN INTERNATIONALLY-SUPERVISED VOTE ON
SELF-DETERMINATION FOR THE SOUTH, BUT SO FAR, THEY REMAIN DIVIDED
OVER WHAT AREA THAT INCLUDES.
SINCE LAST SUMMER, THE TWO SIDES HAVE COMMITTED TO SEVERAL
CONSECUTIVE CEASE-FIRES TO HELP FOOD AID REACH FAMINE AREAS, BUT
THEY HAVE NOT ALL GONE SMOOTHLY. THE CURRENT ROUND OF TALKS
WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 20TH BUT IT WAS POSTPONED WHEN
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ACCUSED S-P-L-A OF VIOLATING THE PREVIOUS
CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/AR/GE/WTW
19-Jul-99 11:47 AM EDT (1547 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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