Ceasefire commission in W. Sudan established

May 30th, 2004.

ADDIS ABABA, May 29, 2004 (Sudan News Agency) -- The Sudanese parties signed an agreement Friday in the premises of the African Union (AU) on setting up a ceasefire commission and deployment of monitors in Darfur.

Sudan's Ambassador to Ethiopia and permanent envoy at the African Union, Osman Al-Sayed, signed for the government while Ahmed Mohammed Tugad signed for the Justice and Equality Movement and Manny Arkawy signed on behalf of the Sudan Liberation Movement.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Ambassador Al-Sayed expressed thanks of the Sudan government to the African Union, European Union and the United States and the representatives of the international community, affirming Sudan's commitment to implement the agreement, referring to the government's concern with solving humanitarian issue of Darfur.

Meanwhile, Peace and Security Commissioner at the African Union, Ambassador Sa'eed Ginaid, described the agreement as great achievement for Sudan, referring to recent signing in Naivasha, Kenya, of three peace protocols between the government of Sudan and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), affirming the African Union's confidence that the Sudanese parties would press ahead with the peace march.

The occasion was attended by Ambassadors of Chad, USA, Britain, the Netherlands and Ireland as well as representatives of the European Union and the international community and many journalists and media men.