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December 14, 2001 Government of Sudan, and SPLM Reach Set of Agreements
· Agreement on internationally monitored cease-fire
to cover Nuba Mountains Region The US reported December 14 to the United Nations and donor governments on progress in US efforts to find common ground between the Government of the Republic of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). Roger P. Winter, Director of the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, who participated in the December 6-13 negotiations in Sudan, traveled to Geneva to provide an update to the December 14 meeting of the International Advisory Committee (IAC) on the Sudan. The International Advisory Committee on the Sudan is chaired by Ross Mountain, Director of the Geneva Office on UNOCHA and Tom Vraatson, the UN Special Envoy on Sudan, and is comprised of donor nations and United Nations and other aid agencies. The following press release was issued in Khartoum, Republic of Sudan, and by the US Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on December 14, 2001.
In the course of meetings with representatives of the
Government of the Republic of Sudan and the Sudan Peoples' Liberation
Movement (SPLM), December 6-13, the US technical team conducted substantive
negotiations with both parties and found some common ground for agreement.
It remains to be seen whether the parties' actions will reflect the
agreements listed below, but we are encouraged by the progress that
has been achieved. The following are the agreements reached with the
Government and the SPLM in response to the four proposals tabled by
Senator John Danforth, the President's Special Envoy for Peace in
Sudan. The Government and the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement/Nuba (SPLM/Nuba) agreed to negotiate an internationally monitored cease-fire to cover the entire Nuba Mountains region and to a relief and rehabilitation program for all civilians in the Nuba Mountains region. The Government and the SPLM/Nuba agreed to immediately observe and extend the current military stand-down and to apply it to the entire Nuba Mountains region to facilitate the negotiation of the cease-fire and the relief and rehabilitation program. The United States believes that strict adherence to the military stand-down will be essential to the success of efforts in the Nuba Mountains region. The Government and the SPLM/Nuba agreed to the immediate dispatch of a relief and rehabilitation assessment mission to the Nuba Mountains, whose findings will serve as the basis for the development of the relief and rehabilitation program. The Government and the SPLM/Nuba agreed to participate immediately in direct negotiations with third party participation to work out the details of the cease-fire. The time and location of these negotiations will be confirmed after the United States consults with third party participants. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations will meet separately with the Government and the SPLM/Nuba to negotiate and develop a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation program for all civilians in the Nuba Mountains region, based on the findings of the assessment mission. 2. Days of Tranquillity The people of Sudan suffer the consequences of eradicable diseases because the war impairs eradication efforts. The Government and SPLM agreed to implement a USG-proposed initiative to eradicate polio. The parties agreed to military stand-downs to facilitate this eradication effort, including a commitment by the Government not to ban flights associated with this effort. The parties also reacted positively to the proposals presented by the United States dealing with Guinea Worm and rinderpest, but the Government said it needed more time to review the proposals. The Government and the USG agreed to complete these discussions and to reach a decision by the time of the visit of Senator Danforth in January. The implementation of these three initiatives involve the parties, the various UN agencies, the US (through USAID) and the Carter Center. It is expected that the success of these initiatives will lead to initiation of additional similar efforts. 3. Bombardment of Civilian and Humanitarian Targets The Government and the SPLM each made a clear, firm commitment to avoid all bombardment of civilian and humanitarian targets. The SPLM agreed to the proposed establishment of an internationally-supported verification mechanism to investigate and report on alleged incidents of civilian targets. The Government said that it was unable to agree to such a mechanism except in the context of a negotiated, comprehensive cease-fire. 4. Slavery, Abductions and Forced Servitude The Government and the SPLM agreed to facilitate and support the visit to Sudan of a U.S.-led and internationally supported Mission to conduct an on the ground investigation of means of preventing slavery, abduction and forced servitude throughout Sudan. The Government agreed to support such a visit even though the Government rejects the assertion that slavery and the slave trade exist in Sudan. Both parties also agreed to implementation of cross-line programs to reduce tensions in the area, including proposals to promote reconciliation between neighboring ethnic groups and proposals to provide groups in the area access to grazing areas and markets. Special Envoy Danforth intend to return to Sudan and the region in January to measure progress by the Government and the SPLM on the implementation of these commitments. Khartoum, Republic of Sudan, December 14, 2001
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