Sudan: UN Security Council welcomes protocol signing as 'significant breakthrough'

Describing it as a significant breakthrough on major issues, members of the United Nations Security Council today welcomed the signing on 20 July of a protocol between the Sudanese Government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement.

A press statement by the Council President for July, Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock of the United Kingdom, praised the parties for their efforts. It also commended Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi and his special envoy Lieutenant General Lazarus Sumbeiyo, who coordinated the negotiations that led to the signing on behalf of the regional organization, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

The Machakos protocol, named after the city in Kenya where it was signed, is a major step towards realizing a just and lasting peace in Sudan, the statement said. Security Council members appealed to the parties to continue to work for the successful conclusion of a global and definitive agreement during the course of 2002.

On Monday, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the protocol and expressed the hope that a definitive accord ending the long-standing conflict could be reached in the next round of negotiations, which are set for August.