NAIROBI - IGAD Heads of State and Government have urged parties to the Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement to remain committed to the implementation of outstanding issues in the agreement.
The IGAD leaders asked the parties to the CPA to particularly move towards completing the North-South Abyei border demarcation, redeployment of forces, integration of the joint Units, establishment of South Sudan and Abyei Referendum Commissions of popular consultations in South Kordofon and blue Nile States .
The leaders, who included President Mwai Kibaki, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Ismael Omar Guelleh of Djibouti and Transitional Federal Government of Somalia Premier Omar Ali Sharmark among others, made the recommendations in a communiqué issued today at the end of the 14th Extra-Ordinary Summit of IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government on the Sudan peace process at Kenyatta International Conference Centre.
They further appealed to the Government of Sudan and the parties to the C.P.A. to ensure the removal of all obstacles to a free and fair election and directed the IGAD Council of Ministers to liaise with the two parties to give technical support in the remaining areas of border demarcation and establishment of the referenda commissions by May 2010.
The leaders also called on the two parties to the C.P.A to develop a working formula that would ensure collaboration for the effective implementation of the CPA.
The leaders welcomed the parties’ commitment to immediately commence the negotiations on post referendum arrangements and reaffirmed IGAD’s continued support for the process.
They directed the IGAD Council of Ministers to immediately undertake shuttle diplomacy to nurture mutual trust and confidence building by the two parties to the CPA.
The regional leaders further asked the IGAD Secretariat to immediately open a liaison office in Juba to follow up implementation of the C.P.A. and to operationalize the invitation to monitor the April 2010 general elections in Sudan .
They appreciated the support of IGAD Partners Forum (IPF), regional and international organizations and asked the IPF Secretariat, in collaboration with the parties and IPF, to convene an international donor conference on the required support for pre and post referendum period.
In his closing remarks, Ethiopian Prime Minister Zenawi reaffirmed IGAD’s total commitment to support both SPLM and NCP in the Sudan peace process towards the realization of the agreed objectives and goals of the C.P.A. implementation process.
Mr. Zenawi, who is the current IGAD Chairperson, said the regional body’s Heads of State and Government would remain committed to resolving outstanding issues to enable successful conclusion of the planned peace activities in Sudan .
The Ethiopian Premier noted that IGAD would remain steadfast in ensuring that the C.P.A. protocols were valid and operational and would continue engaging the two parties to the peace process.
The IGAD chairperson also called for indulgence and sobriety of the parties to the peace process in the run up to the elections and periods before and after the referendum.
Other leaders at the meeting were Sudan ’s First Vice-President and President of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir, Second Vice-President Ali Osman Taha, Kenya ’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, League of Arab States Deputy Secretary General Ahmed Benhelli and AU Commission Chairperson Mr. Jean Ping among others.
Source:PPS
