News Analysis: Compromises between peace partners in Sudan dispel clouds of war
http://www.huanqiu.com 来源：新华网 进入论坛 2007-12-19 14:36
KHARTOUM, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Compromises reached by the two peace partners in Sudan, the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the former southern rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), have dispelled clouds of war between the north and south parts of this African country.
North and south Sudanese leaders said last Wednesday they had resolved almost all their differences and that (SPLM) would sooner join the unity cabinet.
The compromises were reached following four days of meetings of a joint committee of the leaders of the two peace partners in order to end a political crisis that threatened a peace agreement that had brought to an end more than two decades of possibly Africa's longest civil war between north and south Sudan.
During the meeting, the Presidential Trio, made up of President Omer al-Bashir, First Vice President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Vice President Ali Osman Taha reviewed and endorsed recommendations made by a six-member committee of the NCP led by al-Bashir and theSPLM led by Mayardit.
The two parties agreed to neutralize the crisis that brought them to the brink of war, reiterating their commitment to implementing the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), except a protocol on the Abiye enclave.
They agreed on the redeployment, by the end of December, of their respective forces, namely the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) to the north and south of the Jan. 1, 1956 boundaries.
The two parties also agreed to provide funds and take measures for the demarcation of the boundaries between the north and south, as set by the British rulers, and the population census which is due next April.
The SPLM of Mayardit decided to lift a two-month boycott by its ministers of the central government, saying that they would return very soon.
The former rebel southern party last October pulled out of its ministers from the central government in Khartoum and vowed to return only after all CPA provisions were implemented. All controversial issues, except the Abiye question, have now been resolved and the SPLM ministers can resume their ministerial functions in Khartoum.
The Presidency vowed to find a solution to the thorny Abiye territory issue before the third CPA anniversary next Jan. 9.
The two parties appeared optimistic that they could resolve this issue which involves two rival ethnic groups with the Arab Missairiya supported by the NCP and the African Ngok backed by theSPLM.
In addition to the ethnic factor, the issue is made even more difficult by the territory's oil reserve which is coveted by both parties.
It is unlikely that the leaders of the two parties would reach a lasting settlement but they may strike a compromise deal of a temporary solution, pending a plebiscite for the people of the territory, according to observers.
As one way of confidence-building, the partners decided to make the major south Sudanese town of Juba an alternate national capital wherefrom the federal government will run the country's affairs for three months every year.
The two parties are apparently destined to be in coalition at least until the self-determination referendum of 2011 in southern Sudan.
At the present stage, both are interested in maintaining this alliance because, while the NCP relishes the 52 percent power-share given to it by the CPA, the SPLM wants the NCP to remain firm in power to ensure that CPA provisions, particularly the one providing for self-determination, are observed.
