UN chief welcomes steps toward holding of Sudanese national dialogue

U.N. - Top StoriesFriday 5th September, 2014
5 September 2014 - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the initiative of holding a comprehensive national dialogue in Sudan to achieve sustainable peace as well as the progress being made by Sudanese stakeholders to prepare for this process.
Mr. Ban, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, welcomed, in particular, the signing today of an agreement between representatives of the G77 Preparatory Committee for the National Dialogue and the Paris Declaration Group, comprising the National Umma Party and the armed movements.
"The Secretary-General encourages all stakeholders, particularly the Government, to ensure the creation of a conducive environment for an inclusive, transparent and credible dialogue, as envisaged in the agreement signed today," said his spokesperson.
"This includes a cessation of hostilities, guarantees of political freedoms, including the freedom of speech and assembly, the release of political detainees and other confidence-building measures."
Mr. Ban stressed that a fully-inclusive, free and transparent dialogue is critical to address the root causes of the recurrent crises in Sudan and achieve sustainable peace.
He commended the African Union High-level Implementation Panel, led by President Thabo Mbeki, for its tireless efforts in helping the Sudanese find a peaceful solution to the conflicts in Sudan, and reiterated the continued support of the United Nations to this process.
Last month, the African Union-UN Joint Special Representative for Darfur, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, told the Security Council that the challenge for the international community remains how best to impress upon all the parties involved in the Darfur conflict that a military solution and the status quo are untenable.
"The Sudanese parties should be assisted to create the much-needed enabling environment for a genuine and inclusive dialogue and to recognize that the process could be a unique opportunity for sustainable resolution of all the conflicts afflicting the Sudan," he stated.

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