15 Nov 2009
South-south Dialogue kicked off in Khartoum on Saturday with wide participation of a number of Sudanese political parties.

The dialogue will last for three days where issues regarding justice, equality, security in south Sudan, elections and referendum on self-determination will be debated.

The Ruling National Congress (NCP) deputy leader for parties' affairs, Nafie Ali Nafie said in the opening session that "any attempt to obstruct or violate Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) to arrive at alternatives regarding south Sudan issue without involving people of south Sudan in the up-coming referendum was objectionable and waste of right."

Addressing the opening session, Nafie said that NCP "firmly believes in rescuing the agreement and is committed to referendum for self-determination, and it fully consents to and respects a referendum of whatever kind."

"NCP will act accordingly on the condition it will be free and open for the entire people of south Sudan so that the decision will be taken by the people of south Sudan not political forces from Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) or any other party," he added.

Nafie further said that his party hopes that the conference would be "conducive to results."

Nafie also called on SPLM, which has boycotted the conference, to "turn to reason" and join the conference.

alalam