DATE=8/5/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236548
TITLE=SUDAN PEACE TALKS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=ADDIS ABABA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: EAST AFRICAN COUNTRIES ARE PUSHING SUDAN'S GOVERNMENT AND
THE MAIN REBEL GROUP TO END 15 YEARS OF CIVIL WAR. V-O-A'S SCOTT
STEARNS IN ADDIS ABABA REPORTS THEY ARE NEGOTIATING A REFERENDUM
THAT COULD BRING COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE FOR SOUTHERN SUDAN.
TEXT: REGIONAL DIPLOMATS SAY THE TALKS (IN ADDIS ABABA) HAVE
NOW ENTERED A CRUCIAL STAGE WITH MAJOR DISAGREEMENTS STILL TO BE
RESOLVED -- AS FAMINE IN THE SOUTH GROWS WORSE.
ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY SECRETARY GENERAL SALIM AHMED SALIM
SAYS WARRING PARTIES IN SUDAN MUST NOT PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY
OFFERED BY OUTSIDE MEDIATION.
/// SALIM ACT ///
THE CONFLICT IN SOUTHERN SUDAN CALLS FOR AN URGENT
SOLUTION. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS GETTING
INCREASINGLY IMPATIENT AND FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF
DEFINITE MOVEMENT TOWARDS A SOLUTION.
/// END ACT ///
AT THE LAST ROUND OF REGIONALLY-SPONSORED TALKS IN KENYA, BOTH
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE REBELS AGREED TO A REFERENDUM ON SELF-
DETERMINATION FOR THE SOUTH. THEY REMAIN DIVIDED OVER WHO WOULD
BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH A VOTE.
THE GOVERNMENT WANTS ONLY PEOPLE LIVING IN WHAT HAS BEEN SOUTHERN
SUDAN SINCE BRITISH COLONIALISM. REBELS WANT THE FRANCHISE
EXPANDED TO INCLUDE VOTERS IN SOUTHERN KORDOFAN, SOUTHERN BLUE
NILE, AND THE EASTERN NUBA MOUNTAINS.
THE SCOPE OF THAT REFERENDUM AND THE MAKE-UP OF A TRANSITIONAL
AUTHORITY TO FOLLOW ARE THE TWO BIGGEST ITEMS ON THE TABLE HERE.
/// OPT /// KENYAN FOREIGN MINISTER BONAYA GODANA IS CHAIRING
THE REGIONAL SUB-COMMITTEE ON SUDAN. HE SAYS BOTH SIDES SHOULD
MAKE ROOM FOR COMPROMISE OVER THE QUESTION OF WHO LIVES IN
SOUTHERN SUDAN.
/// OPT // GODANA ACT ///
CONCERNING THE DEFINITION OF WHAT IS SOUTH SUDAN, THE
PARTIES SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE ASPIRATIONS
OF THOSE AFFECTED BY THEIR DECISIONS. IN THIS REGARD, I
APPEAL FOR IMPARTIALITY AND CAUTION IN DEALING WITH THE
ISSUE IN ORDER TO ARRIVE AT A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// THE REBEL SUDAN PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY, OR
S-P-L-A, APPEARS UNWILLING TO GIVE UP ITS DEMANDS FOR A BROADER
REFERENDUM, PARTICULARLY IN THE NUBA MOUNTAINS. REBEL GOVERNOR
FOR THE NUBA, YUSIF KUA MAKKI, JOINED THE S-P-L-A DELEGATION IN
ETHIOPIA.
/// OPT /// SOME IN THE GOVERNMENT TEAM SAW MR. MAKKI'S
INCLUSION AS AN EFFORT TO BREAK THE TALKS OVER THE REFERENDUM.
STILL, BOTH SIDES HAVE AGREED TO A THREE-MONTH CEASEFIRE TO HELP
HUMANITARIAN RELIEF EFFORTS.
/// OPT /// ETHIOPIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SEYOUM MESFIN SAYS THE
TRUCE IS A CHANCE TO BRING A LASTING END TO 15 YEARS OF CIVIL
WAR.
/// OPT // SEYOUM ACT ///
THE CONFLICT IN SOUTHERN SUDAN HAS REMAINED INTRACTABLE
FOR SO LONG, BUT THIS IN NO WAY SHOULD BE TAKEN AS A
CONFIRMATION OF THE CONFLICT BEING BEYOND SOLUTION.
GIVEN THE NECESSARY GOOD WILL ON BOTH SIDES, A
BREAKTHROUGH IS POSSIBLE AND ACHIEVABLE.
/// END ACT // END OPT ///
(MEANWHILE) RELIEF OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN ONE-MILLION PEOPLE ARE
SHORT OF FOOD IN SOUTHERN SUDAN.
O-A-U SECRETARY GENERAL SALIM SAYS THE GOVERNMENT AND THE REBELS
MUST SEE THAT THERE IS NO REASON FOR CONTINUING THE WAR WHEN SO
MANY PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.
/// SALIM ACT ///
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING CAN JUSTIFY A CONTINUATION OF THIS
CONFLICT AND THE ATTENDANT SUFFERING IT HAS INFLICTED ON
THE PEOPLE FOR ALL THESE YEARS. THE PEOPLE THERE YEARN
FOR PEACE AND WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO DENY THEM THIS
GOD-GIVEN RIGHT.
/// END ACT ///
SUDAN'S GOVERNMENT THIS WEEK EXPANDED ITS CEASEFIRE TO INCLUDE
ALL OF SOUTHERN SUDAN. DIPLOMATS HERE ARE WORKING ON BOTH SIDES
TO GET THEM TO EXTEND THE CEASEFIRE BEYOND OCTOBER. (SIGNED)
NEB/SKS/JWH/PLM
05-Aug-98 6:59 AM EDT (1059 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America