Only ceasefire can allow return of aid groups to Blue Nile and
Kordofan – Sudan’s FM
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September 29, 2011 (PARIS) — Foreign minister Ali Karti said yesterday
that Sudan can allow aid groups to work in Blue Nile and southern
Kordofan only when the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North
(SPLM-N) stops the fighting in the two troubled provinces.
The fight broke out between Sudanese army and rebels of the Sudan
People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) in the two states bordering the
Republic of South Sudan, since June for South Kordofan and Blue Nile
in September.
The clashes displaced about 25 thousands in the Blue Nile and over
73,000 people who fled the Southern Kordofan. However, Sudanese
government refused to allow international aid agencies and INGOs from
working in the two regions saying this will be a repeat of Darfur
camps.
Speaking in a press conference held at the Sudanese embassy in Paris
on Thursday Karti said the ban of aid groups will be implemented until
a ceasefire is reached with the SPLM-N. But he did not elaborate on
how to reach it.
"If the other party (SPLM-N rebels) agree to a cease-fire and stop all
military operations, then we be willing to allow United Nations
organizations to work for the delivery of food assistance to these
areas," Karti said.
But "We will not accept that the rebels benefit from the humanitarian
assistance to the civilians." He said further stressed. The pointed
out that the SPLM-N decided to not observe the unilateral ceasefire
announced on 23 August, and to keep carrying its attacks. "So we will
not allow it to receive such assistance and to continue its military
operations".
Sudanese Government imposed movement restrictions for UN aid workers
in the Blue Nile following the start of hostilities between the two
parties on 1 September. Aid groups and international NGOs can only
deliver humanitarian assistance through local aid groups particularly
the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS).
Today, the SPLM-N in the Blue Nile released a call to the
international community urging more pressure on the Sudanese
government to lift the humanitarian ban and allow it to work in the
state, particularly in the rebel controlled areas where no information
is available about the situation there.
President, Omer al-Bashir said on Wednesday the army would soon attack
Kurmuk to dislodge the SPLM-N forces out of their last stronghold town
near the border with Ethiopia.
Also Bashir repeated his refusal to any internationally mediated talks
with the SPLM-N but said the movement can negotiate on the
implementation of a protocol related the two provinces particularly
the Popular Consultation.
Karti said the government will not accept the return of Malik Agar as governor.
The French foreign ministry said Thursday that foreign minister Alain
Juppé and cooperation minister Henri de Raincourt discussed the
situation in Blue Nile, Southern Kordofan and Darfur with Karti.
"This meeting was also an opportunity to discuss major regional issues
of common interest, including the future of Libya and coordination of
international assistance to the (Libya’s National Transitional
Council) CNT, and good relations with this country."
Karti told reporters he discussed ways to relief Sudan’s debit with
the French ministers as debt servicing incurs more than $1 billion
annually.
He said they asked France to discuss this relief with the 19 World’s
biggest economies members of the Paris Club for the $38-billion debt
that Sudan and South Sudan are still discussing among the outstanding
issues in the implementation of the 2005 peace agreement.
(ST)
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