Italy: Sudanese Leader Briefs Press on Darfur, South Sudan Peace Processes

Text of report by state-owned Sudanese radio on 15 September; subheadings inserted editorially

[Presenter] The president of the republic, Field Marshal Umar al- Bashir, has discussed in a press conference in Rome the result of his visit to the Vatican and Italy. He said that his talks with government officials centred on various issues, particularly the Darfur crisis, adding that he had briefed the Pope and the Italian prime minister on the current situation in Darfur.

President Al-Bashir affirmed that the forthcoming talks [on Darfur] in Tripoli, Libya would be the final talks to restore peace in Darfur.

Fore more details, here is a report by Abd-al-Qayum Ashmeg.

[Ashmeg] The president of the republic started his press conference by saying that the visit came in response to the an invitation by the Pope. He further mentioned issues he discussed with the Pope and the Italian leaders, among them the Darfur crisis.

Inter-religious dialogue

[President Al-Bashir] Our visit to Rome follows an invitation from the Pope to visit the Vatican. The programme also included a meeting with Italian officials. We discussed various issues with them which included the unity of our heavenly religions and the importance of continued dialogue between them with the aim of strengthening peace and security in the world.

We also affirmed the importance of supporting dialogue of civilization. We also discussed the situation of Christians in Sudan in accordance with the transitional constitution which confirmed the plurality of religions for peaceful coexistence between the Sudanese people irrespective of their religion or race. We also believe that Sudan gives a good example of religious coexistence because there has been no religious wars in Sudan.

Peace in Sudan

We also discussed with the His Excellency the Pope issues regarding efforts being made on peace in Sudan and the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in southern Sudan. However, the issue of the Darfur crisis took more prominence in our discussion. We, however, explained the current situation on the ground in Darfur and the restoration of peace in various parts of the region underlined by the voluntary return of people to their home areas.

Regarding our meeting with Brother Prime Minister [Prodi], we discussed these same issues but we put more emphasis on the Darfur crisis in which we confirmed Sudan’s readiness for dialogue and [commitment to] the forthcoming talks scheduled for October in Tripoli, Libya. We also confirmed Sudan’s readiness for a cease- fire once the talks start.

[Ashmeg] President Al-Bashir termed the Italian stance on Sudanese affairs as objective and far from any pressure and accusation. He further expressed his hope that relations between the two countries would return to normal.

[President Al-Bashir] We also discussed the bilateral relations and the equal and objective role of the Italian government towards Sudan.

Darfur peace talks

[Ashmeg] Answering a question from the press, the president of the republic reiterated Sudanese government’s commitment to restoring peace in Darfur. He pointed out steps taken to implement the Abuja peace accord. He further said that any new agreement to be reached should be made in the framework of the Abuja peace accord.

He said that the forthcoming talks in Tripoli would be the final peace talks to resolve the Darfur crisis.

[President Al-Bashir] The talks in Tripoli would be in the framework of the Abuja peace accord. A big portion of the Abuja peace accord has been implemented. In this regard, the regional authority, commissions and [economic] coffers have been established, and there is no way we will turn away from the Abuja peace accord. Any new agreement should be in the framework of the Abuja peace accord, and this is even the commitment of the mediators such as the UN and the AU which confirm that the negotiations would be held in the framework of the Abuja peace accord. We say that the forthcoming talks [in Libya] would be the final negotiations. In the framework of the Abuja accord we accept any progress but not above what was agreed during the Abuja talks.

Comprehensive Peace Agreement in south

[Ashmeg] President Al-Bashir also discussed the progress in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement [in southern Sudan] and said that a big progress has been achieved.

[President Al-Bashir] Regarding the peace agreement and as per the recent joint report prepared by the two partners [Sudan People Liberation Movement and National Congress Party], 95 per cent of the peace agreement has been implemented. The remaining five per cent will be implemented after an arrangement which will take long and this includes for example the demarcation of the border between the south and north. This is a long process of preparation which will partly need the gathering of maps which will act as an acceptable reference between the two parties which we can now say is complete. The next phase will be the phase of putting the work on the ground which will involve the demarcation of the border. Anyway, we have a joint commission between the SPLM and the NC[P] which is capable of removing the obstacles. It is now present in Khartoum and we will discuss all the contentious issues.

Originally published by Republic of Sudan Radio, Omdurman, in Arabic 0400 15 Sep 07.

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