Supporters of Sudan’s CPA gather at high-level forum

June 24, 2009 (WASHINGTON) – Thirty-three countries and organizations, representing the original witnesses and other international supporters of Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), met at a forum today in Washington, D.C. after four days of talks between the rival parties that had signed the peace deal in 2005.


Sudan’s Ghazi Salah Eddin Attabani shakes hands with SPLM’s Salva Kiir Mayadrit while the former Kenya presdient danial Arab Moi in the middle after the signing of Machakos Protocol, 20th July 2002

Participants at the conference agreed to a joint communiqué emphasizing "the importance of credible, peaceful and transparent nationwide elections in Sudan in line with the National Electoral Commission’s timetable of February 2010 and legitimate popular consultations in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States," indicating support to not push back the elections date again.

Figures in both the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement and National Congress Party had given indications that the February 2010 election date, which already represents a delay from the treaty-mandated timetable, might be pushed back again. The communiqué also touched on potential flashpoints, like the 2011 referendum and the Abyei boundary decision soon to be announced by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

At the Park Hyatt hotel where the forum was held, US Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration said "This really is a very special event, the first high-level conference of its type since the signing of the CPA back in 2005, and we thank you for coming from near and from far."

The top negotiator for the Sudan’s ruling party, Ghazi Salahuddin Atabani, called the event a "watershed" in a written statement to today’s Washington Times advocating for "a constructive American engagement."

Likewise, a former Bush administration official, Andrew Natsios, in today’s Washington Post endorsed the Obama administration’s engagement policy, though criticized administration officials for using the word "genocide," which Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg used again today in remarks on behalf of Secretary Hilary Clinton.

Secretary Clinton was scheduled to appear at the event but did not do so. Since injuring her elbow last week, she has cut back on her public appearances, said a State Department official.

Steinberg said at the conference that "as we celebrate that achievement [of the CPA], we also can never let the recent peace allow us to erase the memory of the millions who were killed in the conflict that preceded the settlement."

Gration said, "Although much progress has been made in the past four and a half years, there’s still much that remains to be done. There’s still many things that remain unfulfilled and unimplemented, and that’s what we’re here to do today. With less than 19 months to go, our work is cut out for us and we have to set a foundation for Sudan for peace, security, and prosperity."

SPLM and NCP delegations agreed to meet with the United States as mediator at three-party talks in July in Khartoum and August in Juba.

(ST)

8 Forum messages

Supporters of Sudan’s CPA gather at high-level forum 24 June 2009 13:03, by Mr.Atok

Dear Readers,

It is of great surprise that around thirty different bodies have gathered in Washington to support the implementation of the stagnant peace between the North-South due to incapabilities shown clearly by some our prominient self renowned leaders in the South. I know we are people loved much by the world around us but due our selfish motives, we always end up as victims of circumstances.

It is also a good learning that all parties shall be abide by the outcome of ruling in Hague as far the Abyei fate, so let us be on our toes to prepare and try to be in compliance with the situation of ruling because we still stand a chance of either lossing or gaining. It doesn’t mean Abyei will be annexed to South or North but whatever outcome must be deemed as crucial.

Atok Dan.

Supporters of Sudan’s CPA gather at high-level forum 24 June 2009 16:29, by Tony Alqaeda

Hi brothers! there is nothing harder to be discuses by 30 countries than what we did in the south,we are not here to request madukuru for any kind of compromise .

They have to leave us alone and we will defense CPA by all kind of what the expected us to do ,we are ready for and i swear that this time some one will run to Saudi Arabia as a refugee.southern Sudan will be for southerners.and Arabs must fuck up and go.we know only kenya as our mediators only but others cockroaches have to leave us alone,during war where were they?
- Supporters of Sudan’s CPA gather at high-level forum 24 June 2009 16:57, by Dinka Aliap Chawul
  
  We Southerners should not be abide by ruling of international court of arbitration if it doesnt recognise Abyei in Southern Sudan map.

Supporters of Sudan’s CPA gather at high-level forum 24 June 2009 16:49, by Apalo Mana

Thirty three countries around the world out of the Organizations reporters what all this people gethered for even in the time of Machakos wasn’t in that number wow washington DC in USA is very more important than the Machacos in the Africa continent.What kind of CPA that people were shaking their hands for? how long that we are going on shaking our hands? as we knew about evants happened in 2005 it was really maricle from our greator.[AGREEMENT] is usually between tow with signatures of both sides and with witnesses and this an a greement was happened between doctor John Garang and NCP in 2005,HEY HEY people how quick that you forgot the fingerprints that Doctor Garang D’Mambiour left them on the documents when he signed The comprehensive Peace Agreement?. We can’t be Re-agreement or re-signed for the documents that have been already done,the only thing that we can do fulfilment for what was done[..]

Supporters of Sudan’s CPA gather at high-level forum 25 June 2009 10:59, by Makol Dhal

This is realy a time where SPLM leadership should be highly appreciated for right choice in handling the CPA to the best. it is in line with Leadership statement of not taking people back to war by SPLM. more over July in Khartoum and August in Juba next review are expected for better outcome in CPA areas of divergences.

Supporters of Sudan’s CPA gather at high-level forum 25 June 2009 13:25, by Adok Liei

Congratulation to all the supporters of CPA, Salva and his office seems unable to control the tempers since events seem to spiral rather like in a relay race. I don’t know how sweet power is, My advice to you is that, we don’t need some thing to happen like what had happened in Kenya last year during their elections, It all began with the Electoral Commission of Kenya rigging the elections and the chairman going on air saying he doesn’t know who won the elections but he went ahead to declare Kibaki the winner. Kibaki has stubbornly ignored the will of the people, the will of parliament where ODM commands the majority and the will of the international community and the election observers who said it was all flawed.

The sensitive land issue in Abyei come up as bitter issue - the message is that people should go back to where their grandparents came from. Ismail Al Azhari followed by Ibrahim Ibbud, the first presidents repossessed land for the British colonialist and made wrong borders among South and the North - in originally Southern Sudanese land! remember where u came from.Open your eyes, open your ears, open your hearts to monitor the elections courteously.

Anyonglai, young Unionist from Australia at now.