Aiming to build confidence among political parties in the run-up to national elections, the Political Parties Affairs Council (PPAC) hosted a one-day workshop with UNMIS support at Khartoum's Al Salam Rotana Hotel on 11 February.

Addressing participants, Deputy Chairperson of the National Elections Committee (NEC) Abdallah Ahmed Abdallah said the workshop would focus on building capacity of political party members, and creating confidence for peaceful elections.

"The elections are a key benchmark in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement," Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) Jasbir Lidder said in his opening remarks, adding that they were also key for positive democratic transformation.

Success of the elections depended on the joint effort of political parties, international observers and UNMIS, Mr. Lidder said, expressing hope that the workshop would generate discussions leading to free and fair elections.

Participants were to discuss three main topics -- possible areas of tension throughout the electoral process, areas of common interest between political parties and acceptable values and behaviour that could serve as guidance for political parties.

With professionalism, high transparency and fairness, possible tensions could be mitigated, Mr. Abdallah said, adding that security and police forces also must be educated about the electoral process and neutrality.

Emphasizing the workshop's importance and timeliness, PPAC Chairperson Bushara Dosa urged the parties to adhere to the democratic process while campaigning.

"You always have to look at the price (you pay) for power," Mr. Bushra said in his opening speech, adding that the workshop would highlight preferable methodology and discourse, encouraging parties to engage rather than defy each other.

"The fairness of elections cannot be achieved by the NEC and observers alone," the chairperson said, but only together with the participation of political parties, who would have to "compete, coordinate and accept the results" of the elections.

All 84 political parties were invited to delegate members to the workshop, which aimed to strengthen the relationship between parties and the PPAC, to provide a space for dialogue and to create an electoral climate conducive to free and fair elections.