More efforts needed to cope with peace implementation – UN

From Sudantribune site Friday 15 August 2008 05:30.

August 14, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — UN envoy to Sudan stressed that more efforts are needed to cope with the implementation of a peace process as agreed in the 2005 deal. He also said a working Abyei roadmap can serve as catalyst for progress of the peace process.

Ashraf Qazi

Two days before to brief the U.N. Security Council on Saturday, Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sudan pointed out the fragility of the peace process and voiced concern over lack of progress in may outstanding issues.

Qazi welcomed the recent appointment of Chief and Deputy Administrator of Abyei area hoping that this step will accelerate the implementation of the others clauses of the roadmap in order to allow the return of Abyei displaced people.

The U.N. envoy urged the northern and southern Sudan troops to withdraw fully from a flashpoint oil region where last May fighting threatened to reignite civil war. Abyei clashes displaced up to 50,000 people and killed at least 89 others.

"We are urging both sides to fully complete their withdrawal so that the JIUs can deploy, patrol throughout the Abyei area," he said.

Qazi said pockets of both parties forces, who were "not large" and "not significant", still exist in the disputed Abyei area but that all forces had left town. There are around 300 soldiers who remain in the area.

However the envoy said "We do not see this as a major problem. It’s just a question of delays and we are engaged with both sides and I’m confident that soon these forces will have completely withdrawn from the area," said Qazi.

Under a roadmap for Abyei signed on June 8, north and south Sudan were to withdraw all their previous forces, deploy joint military units (JIUs) and appoint an administration to govern the area until a referendum on its fate in 2011.

The UN envoy also spoke about the interdependency of the different compounds of peace process in Sudan.

Qazi hoped that a National Electoral Commission (NEC) would be formed quickly and offered U.N. help for the preparation for the first democratic vote in 23 years.

Unconfirmed reports in the Sudanese capital say that Abel Alier could take the presidency of the NEC, the National Congress Party said it has no objection. The members of the electoral boy have to be neutral with no political affiliation with the political parties.

He also underlined the ongoing delay in the implementation of other outstanding issues like the demarcation of the 1 January 1956 boundary and the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration DDR.

With regard to the consequences of the ICC indictment, the head of the mission said they are prepared for such eventuality, but hailed Khartoum’s pledge that it will continue to cooperate with the UNMIS.

from: http://sudantribune.com