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 Referendum Chairman Praises U.S Special Envoyâs Efforts

   Peter Clottey 21 September 2010

Photo: N. Colombant, VOA

   U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration outlined challenges ahead of
   next year's referendum at an event in Washington.

   The  chairman  of Sudanâs referendum commission said U.S special envoy
   Scott  Gration  is helping his organization resolve outstanding issues
   leading   up   to   the  scheduled  9^th  January  referendum  in  the
   semi-autonomous south.

   Professor  Mohamed  Ibrahim Khalil, who was also the first dean of law
   at  the  University  of  Khartoum,  said  Gration, a retired Air Force
   officer,  has  demonstrated  Washingtonâs  commitment  in ensuring the
   success  January  referendum  as  agreed  to in the 2005 Comprehensive
   Peace Agreement (CPA).

   âGeneral  Gration  is  interested we keep in contact. He wants to know
   what  is  going on (and) I tell him what is going on. If there are any
   problems,  I  tell  him.  He  has  leverage  (and)  he  has  very good
   connections  with  everybody in the Sudan, (both) north and south, and
   he has been very helpful and cooperative.â

   This  came  after  U.S.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reaffirmed
   with  Sudanâs  Vice  President Ali Osman Taha about the need to hold a
   credible and transparent vote.

   Sudanese  President  Omar  al-Beshir (R) walks with Sudan's First Vice
   President  and  south  Sudan  leader  Salva  Kiir  at  the  airport in
   Khartoum, as he prepares to leave for Chad, 21 Jul 2010

AFP

   Sudanese  President  Omar  al-Beshir (R) walks with Sudan's First Vice
   President  and  south  Sudan  leader  Salva  Kiir  at  the  airport in
   Khartoum, as he prepares to leave for Chad, 21 Jul 2010

   Khalil  has  been  holding  a  series of meetings with the U.S special
   envoy  to find ways of addressing his organizationâs challenges in the
   run up to the referendum.

   Some  south  Sudan-based  civil  society  groups  have  questioned why
   Washington  has so far failed to keep a pledge of about $60-million to
   help fund activities of the referendum commission.

   Khalil  said  the  U.S.  envoy has been very helpful as the referendum
   commission prepares for the next yearâs vote.

   âI  have  not  raised  an  issue  about  funding because, when we were
   talking about other problems, we were in the process of finalizing the
   budget.  Now,  the budget is finalized and all parties who promised to
   make commitments have made definite commitments, and I am assured that
   we will get funding in a timely manner,â Khalil said.

   He,  however,  declined  to  detail  the role Gration will play in his
   organizationâs preparations.

   Khalil   praised   the   U.S  envoyâs  role  in  resolving  the  sharp
   disagreement  between the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and the
   Sudan  Peopleâs  Liberation Movement (SPLM) over the Secretary General
   position in the referendum commission.

   âWe had some problems about the Secretary General and he was extremely
   interested.  He  talked  to  various parties and then we got over that
   problem.  There  is  no  such thing as delineating areas where General
   Gration can help and areas where he cannot help.â

.