Asmara 14-22 July 2004 AD

Final statement

The leadership body of the National Democratic Rally held its meetings in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, from Wednesday, July 14, until Thursday, July 22, 2004, headed by Mawlana Sayyid Muhammad Othman al-Mirghani, Chairman of the National Democratic Rally, and with the participation of all the leaders of the gathering from the leadership body and the executive office. In the wake of the developments that witnessed the signing of the peace agreement between the SPLM and the Sudanese government, it also witnessed the government’s agreement to begin dialogue with the National Democratic Rally, which announces the beginning of a new phase on the path to the peaceful path and democratic transformation.

The opening session was addressed by Mawlana Mr. Muhammad Othman Al-Mirghani, with an extensive speech in which he addressed the political and diplomatic contacts he had with the leaders of the host country, and many officials from countries interested in Sudanese affairs, in addition to the contacts with officials in the Sudanese government. He affirmed the position of the National Democratic Rally in support of every effort that advances the peace process, indicating that the visions and goals of the Rally have found their way to the negotiating table between the government and the Popular Movement. He called for supporting the peace agreements that were signed in Naivasha as long as they lead to stopping the war, achieving democratic transformation, and creating a new reality in the pursuit of the better. His Excellency announced his agreement with the First Vice President of the Republic to begin dialogue between the National Democratic Rally and the government in accordance with the Jeddah Framework Agreement as soon as possible.

Professor Al-Amin Muhammad Said, Secretary-General of the Popular Front for Democracy and Justice, also addressed the session, expressing Eritrea’s position in support of peace and stability efforts in Sudan. He pointed out that the international community’s interest in the Sudan issue resulted from the sacrifices, perseverance and tireless efforts of the National Democratic Rally. He said that the results of the negotiations between the Popular Movement and the government were encouraging on the path to a peaceful solution, stressing that the agreement with the government requires attention to how to enter into the transitional period and arrange the political conditions that Stability was achieved, and he called for strengthening the unity of the group by developing practical programs, finding realistic solutions to the problems, and mobilizing energies to make the remaining negotiation issues successful.

The session was addressed by Dr. John Garang de Mabior, head of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and member of the assembly's leadership body, saluting the Sudanese people in all their sectors in their ongoing struggle for peace and democracy. He expressed his regret for the deteriorating conditions in the Darfur region, calling for a just and urgent political settlement of the crisis. He also gave an analytical presentation of the agreement that was recently signed in Naivasha, stressing that it achieved the main milestones in the group’s goals of ending the war, bringing about a democratic transformation, and creating a decentralized system that transfers power from the center to the states in a way that ends the phenomenon of marginalization, which is considered a reason for fanning the flames of war. He pointed out that the next stage requires a national program that addresses political, social and economic issues during the transitional period, based on a national consensus with the participation of all political forces.

After an extensive discussion on the proposed agenda, the meeting addressed the following areas:

First: The crisis situation in the Darfur region

The meeting focused on the developments of the situation in Darfur and the repercussions and deterioration that befell the lives of citizens, including oppression, killing, rape, burning of villages, and a violation of human rights, which led to the displacement and displacement of citizens as a result of government policies and by the Janjaweed militias. The leadership body affirmed its condemnation of the horrific deterioration that the situation has reached in Darfur, and called on the government to take the necessary measures to contain the explosive situation, stressing that the Darfur problem is a political problem and is part of the comprehensive crisis and the emergence of It is real for it, and it will not find a way to radically address it except within the framework of the comprehensive political solution that the National Democratic Rally seeks to achieve through the Jeddah Framework Agreement, and building on what was achieved in the Naivasha peace protocols. The National Democratic Rally has prepared the basic principles according to its vision for resolving the ongoing crisis in Darfur.

Second: About the peace protocols:

The meeting welcomed the agreement that was signed between the SPLM and the government and saw that it represents an important step towards ending the war and addressing the roots of the Sudanese problem, and provides a basis for restructuring the national building on foundations that take into account participation in power and development for all citizens in the center and the region. The meeting committed itself to working on investing the opportunity to build on top of what was agreed upon by supporting its positive aspects and addressing the imbalances that accompany it. The meeting confirmed the assembly’s commitment to presenting the final agreement to a conference that includes representatives of all political forces, to agree on a program for national consensus that will govern the transitional period on the basis of commitment to the agreement, and address the issue of balanced political participation. In this regard, the leadership body decided to prepare a draft for national consensus by taking advantage of the draft prepared by a consultative group for the assembly in conjunction with the Umma Party in August 2003, and by making use of the draft social contract proposed by Dr. John Garang and any other documents, and assigned a specialized committee to supervise the drafting of the project. And its issuance. The meeting emphasized the necessity of the National Democratic Rally continuing to be cohesive, unified, and developing its visions, programs, and work mechanisms, as it is an essential element for preserving the agreement and ensuring its implementation. In this regard, the group formed a committee to prepare for the third conference of the group.

Third: On activating the Jeddah Framework Agreement

The meeting welcomed the government's approval to begin dialogue with the National Democratic Rally in accordance with the Jeddah Framework Agreement, and expressed full readiness to sit with the government as soon as the time and place of the meeting were determined. The meeting prepared a declaration of principles for dialogue to guide the negotiating delegation, and assigned the political committee headed by the President of the National Democratic Rally to follow up on the negotiation file.

Fourth: The meeting considered the report submitted by the secretariat of the assembly inside, and after discussion, it referred the parts related to the peace protocols and the Jeddah Framework Agreement to the Political Committee, and assigned the secretariat to complete the work of the technical committees related to the Jeddah Framework Agreement, and directed the competent bodies in the assembly to implement the proposals contained in it.

Fifth: The meeting affirmed its support for the struggle of Sudanese women to obtain their rights and directed the Executive Office to overcome obstacles and continue supervising the holding of the Women’s Conference.

In conclusion, the meeting saluted the steadfastness of the Sudanese people in their struggle to achieve peace and democracy, and praised the support of brotherly and friendly countries in their efforts to stop the war and achieve peace and stability. He also praised the State of Eritrea's supportive position in supporting the cause of the Sudanese people.

God bless you,,,

The position of the National Democratic Rally on the peace protocols and its options for the next stage