US commends Sudan, shares post-vote concerns

WASHINGTON, April 19 (KUNA) -- The United States, United Kingdom and Norway commended Sudan for holding its elections and affirmed that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) remained essential for peace and stability in Sudan, the State Department announced on Monday.
"We commend the people of Sudan for their engagement in a complex and lengthy polling process, and their increased civic participation over recent months", said the Sudan Troika joint statement on the recent Sudanese Elections.
Sudan held its first multi-party elections in twenty-four years on April 15.
The US, UK and Norway are guarantors of the 2005 peace accord that ended Sudan's two-decade civil war.
"We note initial assessments of the electoral process from independent observers, including the judgment that the elections failed to meet international standards. We are reassured that voting passed reasonably peacefully, reportedly with significant participation, but share their serious concerns about weak logistical and technical preparations and reported irregularities in many parts of Sudan", noted the statement.
"We note the limited access of observer missions in Darfur. We regret that the National Elections Commission (NEC) did not do more to prevent and address such problems prior to voting. We strongly encourage the NEC to address in good faith any legitimate disputes effectively and impartially", added the Sudan troika.
President Barack Obama will meet today with US special envoy for Sudan General Scott Gration to discuss the election process in Sudan and ahead of the official results expected to be announced tomorrow where Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir is expected to be reelected after his two major rivals dropped out.
The joint statement affirmed that "it is essential to build upon the progress made so far to expand democratic space in Sudan and ensure full respect for human rights. We call on the Sudanese authorities to draw lessons from these elections and from independent assessments of them, to ensure that future elections and the forthcoming referenda do not suffer from the same flaws".
"The CPA remains essential for peace and stability in Sudan and the region. We urge all parties in Sudan to resume and accelerate work to complete its implementation.
"Urgent progress is needed on border demarcation, preparatory arrangements for the January 2011 referenda for the South and Abyei, and popular consultations in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan. In addition the parties must make it a priority to agree upon the new arrangements needed after the CPA expires in July 2011, irrespective of the outcome of the referenda", they added.
The Sudan troika said it remains "firmly committed to supporting implementation of the CPA and post-CPA arrangements, and the pursuit of peace, justice, reconciliation, and accountability in Darfur." "We will continue to work closely towards these goals with parties in Sudan, and with the United Nations, African Union, Assessment and Evaluation Commission and other international and regional partners," the statement added. (end) jm.gb KUNA 192018 Apr 10NNNN