JOINT PRESS STATEMENT OF GOV. RICHARDSON AND

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000040

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG AND AF/SE
NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO AU SU UN US
SUBJECT: JOINT PRESS STATEMENT OF GOV. RICHARDSON AND
GOVERNMENT OF SUDAN


1. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and the Sudanese
government issued a joint press statement at 1730 local time.


2. The text of the statement is as follows:

(Begin text)

H.E. Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, accompanied by
a delegation sponsored by and including members of the Save
Darfur Coalition, the leading United States-based Darfur
peace advocacy organization, conducted a visit to Sudan to
discuss ways to secure peace in the Darfur region of Sudan
and the protection of all civilians and other non-combatants.
The Governor and delegation visited El Fasher and Nayala in
Darfur for meetings with internally displaced persons in
Darfur, rebel groups that are signatories to the DPA as well
as those which are not as of yet, international agencies, the
United Nations, and humanitarian aid as well as the Wali of
North Darfur and the Deputy Wali of Southern Darfur States
and held meetings in Khartoum with H.E. President Omer Hassan
Al Bashir, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Lam Ajol Ajamin,
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mr. Ali Ahmed Karti,
and a number of high ranking Sudanese officials.

Both sides agreed that ending the conflict in Darfur is
Sudan's and the international community highest priority.
Peace, they agreed, can only come through a political
settlement that is joined in by and addresses the needs of
all parties, on the basis of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA)
of 5 May 2006 reiterating their support for preserving
Sudan's territorial integrity and the importance of respect
for Sudan's sovereignty.

Both sides agreed that there was a compelling need for a
comprehensive cease-fire to launch a political process based
on the DPA that would lead to a durable end to the conflict
as soon as possible. Both agreed to a 60-day cessation of
hostilities by all parties within the framework of the DPA,
accompanied by a start in African Union/United Nations
diplomatic efforts, within the framework of the DPA, to begin
narrowing the gaps between the non-signatories, including
government approval of a field commanders' conference
attended by the African Union and the United Nations. This
would be followed at the appropriate moment by an African
Union/United Nations-sponsored peace summit, again in the
framework of the DPA, no later than 15 March 2007.
Simultaneously, both agreed that the UN needed to expedite as
quickly as possible the provision of UN personnel agreed in
Addis Ababa and further specified in Abuja in November 2006.
President Bashir re-affirmed his commitment to continue to
facilitate the deployment of UN personnel and equipment
consistent with his agreement with the Secretary General of
the UN on Phases II and III, including the eventual
conclusions of the Tripartite Committee as stipulated in the
DPA.

The two sides noted that Governor Richardson had secured a
commitment from commanders of the Justice and Equality
Movement and of the Non-Signatory Front to participate in a
process including a 60-day cease fire agreement within the
framework of the DPA. Governor Richardson and Save Darfur
Coalition expressed their grave concern to all parties with
whom they met about continuing and increasing attacks on
civilians and other non-combatants.

They reiterated that gender-based violence and such crimes
must be condemned and prosecuted regardless of which party or
organization was responsible, noting that Governor Richardson
and the Save Darfur Coalition emphasized the need in all
their meetings for implementing mechanism to ensure that
"zero tolerance" policies towards gender-based violence be
applied in practice, quickly and robustly. Governor
Richardson noted with appreciation President Bashir's
commitment to welcome a significant contribution of female
members to the AU/UN hybrid operations. Both sides expressed
their grave concern at allegations of gender-based violence
by United Nations personnel in South Sudan.

Governor Richardson and the delegation also met with the
Under-Secretary of Justice, the Rapporteur of the Advisory
Council for Human Rights and Dr. Attyat who presented a
briefing on Sudanese Government efforts to institutionalize
protections for women. The Governor and the delegation
accepted the offer to work with the Ministry to analyze and
extend existing efforts to support Sudanese women against all
gender-based violence.

President Bashir and Governor Richardson also agreed that

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more light needs to be shed on the full situation in Darfur.
President Bashir agreed to allow and facilitate travel by
journalists from all over the world to Darfur.

The two sides underscored the need to disarm all armed
groups, including the Janjaweed, pursuant to the provision of
the DPA, and further agreed not to have the National military
aircraft painted in white markings normally reserved for
international organizations.

President Bashir agreed that government forces would attempt
to improve security conditions in all areas of Darfur with
special emphasis on El Geneina and would provide protection
to food and other humanitarian convoys. They also agreed
that humanitarian aid agencies have greatly assisted the
Government and people of Sudan by providing much needed
emergency and development aid in Darfur and other parts of
Sudan. President Bashir agreed to expedite procedures for
entry visas for all humanitarian aid workers as well as
goods. He also agreed to terminate the requirement of exit
visas for humanitarian aid workers. President Bashir noted
with satisfaction the strong statements by the Save Darfur
Coalition to rebel commanders condemning attacks by their
members on humanitarian aid operations and agreed to initiate
an ongoing dialogue with the Save Darfur Coalition aimed at
ending the violence in Darfur and on achieving a political
solution to the crisis.

The two sides agreed to apprise African Union Special Envoy
Salim Ahmed Salim and United Nations Special Envoy Jan
Eliasson of these developments, so that the African Union and
the United Nations will facilitate the commanders meeting and
launch the political discussion and to maintain regular
communication assessing progress on these important
initiatives to identify areas of difficulty on which further
engagement may be necessary to ensure rapid progress and
durable outcomes.

Both sides agreed that an improvement of relations is in the
mutual interest of both countries.

(End text)
HUME