DATE=7/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-252073
TITLE=SUDAN TALKS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ALISHA RYU
DATELINE=NAIROBI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PEACE TALKS TO END THE CIVIL WAR IN SUDAN ENDED FRIDAY IN
NAIROBI WITHOUT ACHIEVING A CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT FOR FAMINE-HIT
AREAS OF SOUTHERN SUDAN. AS V-O-A'S ALISHA RYU REPORTS FROM OUR
EAST AFRICA BUREAU, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE REBELS FIGHTING IT ARE
STILL FAR APART ON SEVERAL OUTSTANDING ISSUES.
TEXT: SUDAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER -- MUSTAFA OSMAN ISMAIL -- TOLD
REPORTERS THAT THE KHARTOUM GOVERNMENT HAS REJECTED AN OFFER BY
REBELS TO EXTEND A CEASEFIRE IN A LIMITED AREA OF SOUTHERN SUDAN.
MR. ISMAIL SAYS THERE CAN BE NO PEACE IN THE REGION UNTIL THE
REBELS AGREE TO WHAT HE CALLED A "COMPREHENSIVE AND GENERAL"
CEASEFIRE COVERING THE WHOLE OF SOUTHERN SUDAN. HE ACCUSED THE
LEADERS OF THE SUDAN PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY -- S-P-L-A -- OF
RETREATING FROM PREVIOUS AGREEMENTS.
// ISMAIL ACT //
CHANGING OF POSITIONS TACTICALLY WILL NOT HELP US TO
BUILD A BOND -- THE ISSUES WHICH WE AGREED UPON. THIS
WILL CREATE FACTORS WHICH WILL BE NEGATIVE FOR THE PEACE
PROCESS.
// END ACT //
THE HEAD OF THE S-P-L-A DELEGATION -- SALVA KIIR -- SAYS THE
REBEL GROUP STILL INTENDS TO ENFORCE A THREE-MONTH UNILATERAL
CEASEFIRE IT DECLARED ON MONDAY AT THE START OF THE TALKS.
S-P-L-A SAYS THE CEASEFIRE IS TO HELP HUMANITARIAN AID FLOW TO
THE FAMINE-STRICKEN REGION OF BAHR-EL-GHAZAL AND UPPER NILE. BUT
MR. KIIR SAYS THE GROUP CANNOT AGREE TO A COMPREHENSIVE
CEASEFIRE.
// KIIR ACT //
YOU CANNOT HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE CEASEFIRE WHEN YOU HAVE
NOT SOLVED THE POLITICAL PROBLEM THAT LED TO THE WAR
ITSELF. SOLVING THE PROBLEM WILL AUTOMATICALLY LEAD TO A
CEASEFIRE BECAUSE NOBODY WILL THEN FIGHT.
// END ACT //
DIPLOMATS INVOLVED IN THE TALKS EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT ABOUT
THE IMPASSE AND THE LACK OF RESULTS FROM THE 5-DAYS OF
NEGOTIATIONS. THEY SAY THE KHARTOUM GOVERNMENT AND THE S-P-L-A
ARE STILL AT ODDS OVER SEVERAL KEY ISSUES, INCLUDING THE DETAILS
OF HOLDING A REFERENDUM IN THE SOUTH ON SECESSION AND THE
SEPARATION OF STATE AND RELIGION.
THE REGIONAL ALLIANCE KNOWN AS IGAD THAT IS SPONSORING THE PEACE
TALKS SAYS A PERMANENT SECRETARIAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN
NAIROBI TO MEDIATE FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS. IGAD SAYS THE NEXT ROUND
OF TALKS WILL TAKE PLACE IN TWO MONTHS.
DONOR NATIONS HAVE URGED THE WARRING PARTIES TO IMPROVE THE
PROGRESS OF TALKS OR RISK THE REDUCTION OF HUMANITARIAN AID TO
SUDAN. RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS SAY MILLIONS OF SOUTHERN SUDANESE
ARE CURRENTLY FACING STARVATION AND DISEASE BROUGHT ON BY DROUGHT
AND THE CONTINUING CIVIL WAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/AR/GE/KL
23-Jul-99 11:48 AM EDT (1548 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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