Khartoum Appears Ready to Accept Referendum Result.

The head of Sudan’s governing National
Congress Party’s delegation to the permanent
court of arbitration said his party is committed
to living peacefully with a newly-independent
south Sudan if southerners choose secession
over unity.
Ambassador Dirdiery Mohamed Ahmed, who is
also a member of the NCP negotiating team
with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement
(SPLM), said his party will live up to its
commitment of respecting the outcome of the
referendum.
“The NCP is very much encouraged about the
peaceful beginning of the referendum. The
voting has been, in fact, very successful
throughout the country. The turnout was very
much encouraging and we think that, if this
trend continues, we will see a very peaceful and
successful referendum process,” he said.
Over three-million registered southern Sudanese
began voting Sunday in a referendum that will
determine if the semi-autonomous south
secedes and becomes an independent nation.
Voting appeared to be proceeding smoothly,
although officials reported clashes between
Misseriya and Ngok Dinka tribesmen in the
disputed, oil-producing Abyei region. Early
reports say several people may have been
killed.
U.S. President Barack Obama said in a
statement Sunday that he is
“extremely pleased” the voting has started. He
said the international community is determined
that all parties in Sudan live up to their
obligations.
Observers have expressed concern that there is
a need to quickly resolve the outstanding issues
between the NCP and the SPLM in order to
ensure peace and stability after the referendum.
“We have the border issue...which has to be
agreed upon; we are having also the citizenship
issue and whether the southern Sudanese will
be voting for secession will still be enjoying the
nationality of the Sudan, or they will be having
their own nationality in the south,” said Ahmed.
“As the NCP meets, will we also continue
sharing the oil revenues as per the old formula,
or are we going to agree on a new formula,
having in mind that most of the oil is produced
in the south, but is now exported through the
pipelines and refineries that are installed in the
north.”
Ambassador Ahmed also said the NCP is
encouraged with the “peaceful nature” of the
referendum.

Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Khartoum-Appears-Ready-to-Accept-Referendum-Result--113174684.html