English Translation of the Statement of His Excellency the President of the Republic of the Sudan, Omer Hassan Ahmed El Bashir, On the Occasion of the Signing of the Peace Agreement, 21st April 1997.

During the past seven years our long march for peace has been rich and active. Our past and future struggle for peace is no longer a struggle in the face of war, but rather an actual implementation of the values of justice and equality among the citizens, and regions of this country. During that time, we had to give active and serious consideration to ideas, and make continuous efforts to find a peaceful solution to our problems.
These efforts reflect our desire to enshrine the values of justice in our national life, and to continue the reformative legislation that characterises the new social reality in the Sudan.

Brothers and Sisters, Distinguished audience,

Our search for peace in the face of international hostility has been a dual mission. On the one hand it aims to broaden the ground of dialogue and greaten the chances of a meeting of minds between patriots who oppose both regional interference and international hegemony. And on the other hand, this peace mission constitutes a rejection of internal coercion and infringement of the natural rights of the Sudanese citizen, regardless of any pretext and justification.

Against this background, this agreement came to embody the lofty value of free opinion. Freedom is both a trust and a responsibility. The creative nature of this agreement is emphasized by the fact that it has been concluded by conviction with no coercion - from either side. It is solely a Sudanese endeavour and a purely national message in concept and origin. It has before it the true intentions of patriotic citizens who have worked continuously on it for the past eight years, until those in arms understood and realized that road of peace was the only one able to guide the Sudan in the future and lead it to achieve the dreams of peaceful coexistence.

We meet today to bear witness to a comprehensive agreement, in which every party is considered a winner. We also want the world to bear witness that those who fought us yesterday in the battle field are today committed to fight against the evils of war, and build with us the fortress of peace, and cohesion.

Optimism began with the Revolution, when many declared their to achieve peace in the country. Its serious approach and interaction with the resolutions and recommendations of the National Dialogue Conference for Peace was an early incentive for our brothers from the signatory factions. They were encouraged to take the risks in order to build the necessary confidence upon which peace is built. Therefore the agreement reflects the vaulting ambition from which great achievements have the greatest chance of emerging.

The Peace Charter represented a genuine declaration of intent and a serious commitment to peace. It led to the building of confidence and its principles were propagated internally and externally throughout the past year. Necessary conditions were met leading to the resolution of all controversial issues. It showed how outstanding problems can be solved by dialogue and that peace can mean an end of hostilities and the emergence of an ideal solution based on conviction and mutual respect - a solution that is built upon the conviction that all citizens are created equal in rights and duties; a solution that is capable of reviving a nation for so long ravaged by the cruel hand of war.

We are convinced that peace will transcend all intransigence. The military option is the worst in conflict resolution. War between brothers has no winner. All are losers. Today we win by signing this agreement. We have conquered the cruelty of war with the triumph of the good in us in order that a promising tomorrow can be built with confidence, brotherhood and optimism.

The significance and specificity of the agreement today is not against what we have already achieved in the political and administrative domains. With this agreement we complement the achievements realized in the building of a political system and the Federal arrangements. The agreement has the distinction of embodying all commitments made during previous rounds of talks, a matter that adds to the credibility of the revolution and establishes the confidence needed for implementation and future follow-up. It is an indeed a source of pride for the entire Sudanese nation.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

We are delighted to be here today to announce the advent of the harvest - the harvest that is the peace we have planted in the soil of our country with the sweat of Patriotism. Peace we pursued with patience, hard work and perseverance until it gave the fruits of "the Political Charter" and the subsequent "Peace Agreement".

The civil war in the South was the main challenge which the National Salvation Revolution faced and so was the question of peace. In pursuit of this precious peace we went to Addis Ababa only one month after the Revolution. In its third month the National Dialogue Conference on peace was convened the outcome of which laid the basis of National Dialogue programmes. This was followed by the meetings of Nairobi, Abuja, Frankfurt and other places. Here we pursued peace, freedom and the just principle of citizenship.

Today we are celebrating two historic occasions - the first anniversary of the signing of "the Political Charter" and the memorable signing of "this Peace Agreement". These reflect the deep feelings of our people and their ardent desire for solidarity, stability and development. Indeed those feelings are quite objective, logical and realistic necessitated by the requests of either being a nation or not as we, for long, suffered from the repercussions of civil strife, weakened by armed conflicts and crippled by futile disputes. All this led to the vulnerability of our nation, and the loss of its rights - in a world that stands deaf to the voice of the weak, the agony of the wounded and the cries of the wretched.

While the Sudan was working hard to unify its ranks, and pull together its strength, it was therefore pertinent to have an accurate perception for the reasons behind its turbulent state of affairs, and the basis upon which its people can come together and the means of laying-down those basis so as to avoid falling into another devastating and disastrous situation.

Brothers and Sisters,
Distinguished Audience,

The basic and the greatest challenge that faces the Sudan is no longer purely internal dissension, but regional and international forces with deeply sinister motives.

The new struggle is a clash of civilisations - a clash between the patriotic signatories of this agreement and those who stand against the basics of our common culture and national heritage. We are duty bound to seek the road of peace, and the realities that it will present, with vigilance and wisdom. Yet this wisdom and vigilance should not be a route to delay and hesitation or self-deception, because peace is a means and an ultimate objective and a goal, the final goal that represents the shield of resistance and the perpetual impetus behind it.

Distinguished Guests,

This agreement constitutes a fair start on the path of political participation, exercise of freedom and expression of rights. Equally, it testifies to the diversity of the Sudan - culturally, linguistically, ethnically and religiously. It represents an assertion of stability expediting of construction and development.

We wish here and now to express the desire of the Government and the contracting parties sincerely to work for a comprehensive peace and reconciliation among all opposition parties, even those still in arms. We call upon them to join this great achievement and be part of it. We call upon them to transcend animosity to the spirit of unity, which we hope will be the basis of our national march above hurdles and obstacles.

Pertaining to the legislative framework of this agreement, I hereby declare the absolute commitment of the Government all that it embodies. We will implement it immediately after its ratification; it will be incorporated in the constitution of the Sudan.

On this occasion, I declare the formation of a national committee to prepare the draft constitution to be tabled to the National Assembly for adoption, prior to subjecting it to the referendum.

In implementation of this agreement we declare a general amnesty with regard to all crimes committed by members of forces party to this agreement. This amnesty shall come into force as from today. Let its procedural requirements be made good with immediate effect.

We also declare the commencement of a comprehensive programme for political mobilisation in which all official and popular organizations shall participate in propagating the requirements of peace and soliciting popular support to the peace agreement to achieve solidarity and cohesion.

We call upon all the citizens inside and abroad to join together to consolidate stability and continuity of peace. This agreement is for all. It is an open book for the international community to read and an invitation for all to respond positively with supporting.

We will lead a comprehensive campaign to publicise this agreement and solicit internal and external support.

We are delighted with this agreement, and equally happy with this august gathering of our distinguished guests who are sharing with us this great achievement. Peace for Sudan is peace for its neighbours and vice versa. It is with this deep understanding that we took the initiative to invite all the neighbouring countries to share with us this occasion, in spite of bad relations with some of these countries and mare aggression from some others against our territorial integrity. We take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the principles of good neighbourliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of others. At the same time we will continue to defend the dignity of our country and of our people.

But our happiness would be incomplete if we did not mention all those who were behind this great achievement, all those who gave their lives in defence of its meaning and spirit, and above all those are the Sudanese people who have offered much, and have been patient; they are most of all worthy of this great day of joy and happiness.

Greetings to you!
Joy and happiness be upon us all

Allaho Akbar,
Assalamo Alaikom.