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29 October 1999

Text: U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Discusses IGAD Peace Process in Egypt

(Appeals to Sudanese government to cease aerial bombings) (520)
U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan, Harry Johnston, met October 28 in Cairo
with Sudanese Ambassador to Egypt Ahmed Abdel Halim Mohamed to discuss
issues related to the IGAD peace process, human rights, and
humanitarian relief.
Johnston is currently on a five-country mission in which he is meeting 
with Sudanese civil society representatives, leaders of the National 
Democratic Alliance, Sudanese government officials, Egyptian government
officials, and the heads of state and envoys of the IGAD countries
charged with negotiating between the government and the Sudan People's
Liberation Movement.
Johnston highlighted United States support for IGAD "as the best
mechanism for bringing peace to Sudan. The U.S. believes that the
newly revitalized IGAD process offers the best hope of achieving a
comprehensive settlement," according to a press release.
The envoy "stressed the imperative of ensuring respect for human
rights throughout Sudan," and "appealed to the Sudanese government to
cease the practice of aerial bombardments against civilian
populations."
Following is the text of the press release, provided by USIS Cairo:
(begin text)
October 28, 1999
U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Urges Khartoum to Cease Aerial Bombings
President Clinton's and Secretary Albright's Special Envoy for Sudan,
Harry Johnston, met on Thursday with Sudanese Ambassador to Egypt
Ahmed Abdel Halim Mohamed to discuss issues related to the IGAD peace
process, human rights, and humanitarian relief.
Johnston is currently on a five-country mission in which he is meeting 
with Sudanese civil society representatives, leaders of the National 
Democratic Alliance, Sudanese government officials, Egyptian government
officials, and the heads of state and envoys of the IGAD countries
charged with negotiating between the government and the Sudan People's
Liberation Movement.
Johnston highlighted United States support for IGAD as the best
mechanism for bringing peace to Sudan. The U.S. believes that the
newly revitalized IGAD process offers the best hope of achieving a
comprehensive settlement. If successful, this process will address
fundamental issues, such as the restoration of democracy and the role
of religion in politics, and result in maintaining the unity of Sudan,
the goal we all seek.
Johnston also pressed Sudanese government representatives to lift the
denial of humanitarian aid access imposed this week by the Government
of Sudan on four locations in the western Upper Nile region of
southern Sudan. Credible reports from this area are emerging of a
campaign of forced displacement by the Sudanese government to clear
civilian populations out of the area of the oil fields and the
pipeline.
Finally, Johnston stressed the imperative of ensuring respect for
human rights throughout Sudan. Johnston noted that he raised the issue
of SPLA human rights violations directly with Dr. John Garang. He
appealed to the Sudanese government to cease the practice of aerial
bombardments against civilian populations. Johnston urged that an end
to indiscriminate aerial bombings would be an important
confidence-building measure in advance of the initiation of the
revitalized IGAD process.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State.)