United States, United Kingdom, and Norway, the Sudan Troika, commend people intensive participation in elections
Khartoum, April (SUNA) -The United States, United Kingdom, and Norway, the Sudan Troika, has commend the people of Sudan for their engagement in a complex and lengthy polling process, and their increased civic participation over recent months, a joint statement said on Monday
The joint statement said the group acknowledged the conclusion on 15 April of Sudan's first multi-party elections in twenty-four years and said it commend the people of Sudan for their engagement in a complex and lengthy polling process, and their increased civic participation over recent months
The statement pointed out that last month the group has collectively reiterated their call for peaceful, credible elections, and expressed their deep concern regarding reports of administrative and logistical challenges, among, others
The statement said the Troika Sudan noted the initial assessments of the electoral process from independent observers, including the judgment that the elections failed to meet international standards
But it affirmed that the group was 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
The statement said the group also noted the limited access of observer missions in Darfur, and expressed its regret that the National Elections Commission (NEC) did not do more to prevent and address such problems prior to voting
The statement said the SudanTroika encourages the NEC to address in good faith any legitimatedisputes effectively and impartially
It stressed that it was essential to build upon the progress made so far to expand democratic space in Sudan and ensure full respect for human rights
The statement has called 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
It underlined that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the CPA, remains essential for peace and stability in Sudan and the region, calling on all parties in Sudan to resume and accelerate work to complete its implementation. It said urgent progress was needed on border demarcation, preparatory arrangements for the January 2011 referenda for the South and Abyei, and popular consultations in Blue Nile and Southern Kordufan
The statement said the group remains firmly committed to supporting implementation of the CPA and post-CPA arrangements, and the pursuit of peace,in Darfur. It said the group 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
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