For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 27, 2004
Statement by the Press Secretary
Sudan Peace Agreement
The United States welcomes the announcement that the Government of
Sudan and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) have
completed an agreement for peace in Sudan. The signing of the final
three protocols begins the closure of the longest running civil war in
sub-Saharan Africa. The United States has worked closely with the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development and others, during this long
peace process. President Bush, and his Special Envoy Senator Danforth,
continue to be keenly interested in its success to end the suffering of
the people of the South. At the same time, this peace also presents a
unique opportunity for a united Sudan to cast aside the baggage of its
troubled past and embark on a new course of stability, prosperity, and
reconciliation.
We applaud the perseverance of the two sides in the months of long
and difficult negotiations. With this agreement in hand, we fully
expect negotiators to work now with greater flexibility, speed, and
dedication to complete the terms of implementation. We call upon the
leadership of both sides to prepare their people in earnest for the
commitments agreed in all of the protocols which are the keys to
lasting peace and preserving the unity of Sudan.
Few countries have suffered as Sudan. We urge the Government of
Sudan to use the positive momentum created by the peace agreement to
reverse the tragic human rights and humanitarian crisis unfolding in
Darfur. Further action is required in order for the benefits of peace
to reach all Sudanese and for Sudan to enjoy full cooperation with the
international community. The displaced population in Darfur must be
able to safely return to their homes so that they can contribute to the
rebuilding of their country.
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