Annan meets with autonomist leader to discuss peace process in Sudan

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today met with the leader of the main autonomist movement in southern Sudan and reaffirmed the readiness of the United Nations to help implement the agreement the group reached with the Sudanese government in an effort to end the two-decades old conflict in Africa's largest country.

"John Garang briefed the Secretary-General on the progress being made in the Sudanese peace process," said a statement issued after Mr. Annan's meeting at UN Headquarters in New York with the chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A).

"He (Garang) also briefed in detail on the issue of security agreements, which is one of the key agreements reached so far by the parties. They discussed the remaining issues in the peace process," the statement added.

"The Secretary-General reaffirmed the UN's willingness to help implement the agreement reached and strongly encouraged the parties to persevere in the remaining negotiations in order to reach a successful conclusion," it concluded.