Minister for Foreign Affairs Welcomes Memorandum of Understanding on Sudan Agreed in Nairobi
19/11/2004
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern, T.D., has warmly welcomed the signing today in Nairobi of a memorandum of understanding between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement pledging to conclude a comprehensive peace agreement for Sudan by 31 December 2004.
“This is an important commitment by both sides in Sudan to conclude a peace deal for Sudan by the end of this year, thereby bringing a much needed and final to an end twenty-one years of conflict between north and south in that troubled country.”
The Minister also said: “I hope that this agreement concluded today in Nairobi between the Sudanese government and the SPLM will provide a renewed impetus to efforts already underway to achieve a parallel political settlement in the Darfur region”.
The signing of the memorandum of understanding took place as the UN Security Council holds a special meeting in Nairobi today to discuss the situation in Sudan. A resolution welcoming the parties’ commitment to conclude a final peace deal and urging greater efforts to conclude a parallel peace agreement in Darfur is expected to be adopted by the Security Council later today.
NOTE FOR EDITORS
A comprehensive peace deal in Sudan will bring an end to 21 years of civil war between the Muslim North of Sudan and the rebel controlled Christian/Animist South. As a result of the conflict an estimated five million people have been displaced, and up to 2 million may have died. Peace negotiations between north and south have been underway in Nairobi since June 2002 during which time both sides have observed a ceasefire. A number of agreements between the Sudanese Government and the SPLM have already been concluded on power-sharing, security and transition arrangements and these include provision for a possible referendum on self-determination for the southern part of Sudan, to be held after an interim period of six years following the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement.
Ends++++
19 November 2004
Top
