Peace Workshops

Received 21 Dec 2002

U.S Department of State
Press Release

Sudan: Workshops Between the Government of Sudan and Sudan People's
Liberation Movement

The United States congratulates the Government of Sudan and the
Sudan People's Liberation Movement on the progress made in a
workshop held here in Washington. The workshops, held at the
invitation of the United States, allowed two parties to meet and
have discussions in order to improve the climate of negotiations in
advance of the restarting of peace talks in January. The following
is the text of a joint statement made by the two parties on December
20.

The two parties appreciate the invitation of the United States to
participate in workshops in Washington December 18-19 regarding
power-sharing, wealth-sharing, and other issues. The workshops and
related meetings with senior U.S. officials were helpful in focusing
attention on key outstanding issues in the negotiations with a view
towards facilitating progress in the peace talks when they resume
early next year.

The two sides agreed on the necessity to strengthen the coordination
mechanism in the Memorandum of Understanding on the cessation of
hostilities. The two sides agreed to facilitate communication
between them on a range of issues, and on the need to avoid
provocative rhetoric unhelpful to the peace process. The two sides
agreed to begin working together on a work plan for the pre-interim
period in the expectation that a peace settlement will be achieved.

The two sides take this opportunity to reaffirm their strong
commitment to achieving a just and comprehensive peace settlement as
quickly as possible. They welcome the continued efforts of the
United States and its Troika partners, the UK and Norway, to support
the peace process being carried out under the auspices of the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
[End]

Released on December 20, 2002
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2002/16166.htm



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--
Jemera Rone
Sudan researcher, Counsel
Human Rights Watch
1630 Connecticut Ave. NW, suite 500
Washington, DC 20009
202-612-4328
fax 202-612-4333; reception 202-612-4321
email [email protected]
Sudan page: http://www.hrw.org/africa/sudan.php
Sudan - World Report chapter 2001:
http://www.hrw.org/wr2k2/africa12.html
Sudan Maps: http://www.RightsMaps.com/html/sudmap1.html