UNSC: Referenda timeline tight but doable

10 Oct 2010

UNSC: Referenda timeline tight but doable

9 October 2010 -- Both parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) were committed to fully implement the accord in holding peaceful and credible referenda on time, although the established timeline was tight, UN Security Council (UNSC) representatives said today in Khartoum, as they ended a four-day visit to Sudan.
Registration for the southern referendum would begin on 14 November, as decided by the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission, UNSC delegation Co-chair and United Kingdom permanent envoy to Sudan Mark Lyall Grant told reporters at the Al Salam Rotana Hotel.
The two parties must tackle outstanding issues, including border demarcation, citizenship, the question of the Abyei area and revenue sharing by this date, he added.
The referenda timeline was rather tight but doable, Mr. Grant said, noting that the parties had also expressed difficulties in financial funding for the referenda process.
[The referendum in Southern Sudan will determine whether the region remains united with the north or secedes and the Abyei poll if the area joins the north or south.]
During its visit, the delegation met with Sudanese political leaders, the UN Country Team, UNMIS and UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) force commanders as well as representatives of civil society and humanitarian organizations, focusing on issues related to the CPA and security in Darfur.
The delegation was "deeply concerned by the insecurity and continued suffering of internally displaced people in Darfur", Mr. Lyall Grant said, urging rebel groups who had stayed away from the Doha peace talks to participate.