Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Sudan Ruling Party Official Hails Oil Agreement with SPLM

   Peter Clottey 09 December 2010
   Sudanese  President  Omar  al-Bashir  delivers  a  speech  during  his
   swearing-in ceremony at the parliament in Khartoum, 27 May 2010

Photo: AFP

   Sudanese  President  Omar  al-Bashir  delivers  a  speech  during  his
   swearing-in ceremony at the parliament in Khartoum, 27 May 2010

   A senior member of Sudanâs governing National Congress Party (NCP) has
   told  VOA  an  agreement  with  the Sudan Peopleâs Liberation Movement
   (SPLM)  over  outstanding  âoil  issuesâ  ahead  of  the  next monthâs
   referendum   shows   his   partyâs   commitment   towards   the   full
   implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

   Rabie  Abdelati  Obeid said the agreement is also an indication that a
   solution  could  soon  be  found  to  resolve disputes surrounding the
   oil-rich Abyei region.

   âThe two parties agreed that the oil should be continued from south to
   north  and  to  be  transported  all  through  the  period  after  the
   referendum  till  19^th  of  July 2011, that, together, they (SPLM and
   NCP)  should guarantee the protection of bodies and companies, as well
   as  employees,  and  that  everything  should continue as it is,â said
   Obeid.

Obeid

   Dr.  Rabie  Abdelati  Obeid  is a prominent member of Sudan's dominant
   National Congress Party (NCP)

   âThis  is to guarantee the flow of oil and the protection of personnel
   working  there,  and companies, and also to guarantee the revenue will
   come  to the south because it will be the only revenue that south will
   retain, only in case of secession.â

   Ali Osman Mohammed Taha, Sudanâs second vice president, and members of
   the NCP, reached agreement Wednesday with senior officials of the SPLM
   over concerns about oil production after the referendum.

   Obeid  said  the  agreement  will  ensure  that  oil production is not
   disturbed regardless of the outcome of the 9^th January referendum.

   He  said  the  oil agreement also forms part of the CPA, which he said
   guarantees stability.

   âI  think  this  will  be  very  good  to  resolve  the pending points
   regarding  Abyei, as well as citizenship, and the rest which are left,
   including the demarcation (of borders) between south and north.â

   Obeid  said  the  NCP  is  satisfied  with the agreement which, in his
   words, made no change in the CPA.

   âIt  is  also typical to what has already been signed in the CPA about
   the  production  of  oil  in  this area, which is under the borders of
   1956,â he said.

   Meanwhile,  thousands  of people marched in southern Sudan Thursday to
   show support for next month's referendum on southern independence.

   Demonstrators  marched  through  the  regional  capital, Juba, singing
   songs  and  chanting  slogans  calling for separation from the rest of
   Sudan.  Southerners  have  been  holding monthly marches to show their
   support for the poll.

.