By Tomas A. Granados, Prensa Latina,
United Nations : UN authorities expressed serious concern Friday for the lack of progress in talks between authorities in north and south Sudan.
The text on the situation in Sudan, prepared by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to be presented to the Security Council next week, expressed the fear that the lack of progress endangers implementation of the 2005 peace agreement.
The Sudanese National Unity Government in Khartoum and the southern government have not reached agreement on essential topics such as the status of the rich oil region of Abyei and the demarcation between the north and the south of Sudan.
Progress in disarmament, demobilization and social reincorporation of former fighters, training of mixed units with soldiers from the north and the south and the preparation of elections for next year do not report any progress either.
UN diplomatic officials said an agreement on Abyei, including the distribution of the income for oil exports, and the other important topics will be decisive for the implementation of the peace agreement.
The UN report does highlight progress on a combined plan for economic recovery and development, especially in the areas most affected by the civil war.
Ban Ki Moon emphasized that preservation of the association between the authorities of the north and south of Sudan is fundamental for the success of the current peace process, but the recent incidents and tensions in the area of Abyei are potential dangers for the peace agreement.
The conflict between the Islamic north and the Christian south started a year before Sudanese independence in 1956 and concluded 17 years later with the signing of a peace agreement in Addis Abeba.
The second civil war began in September 1983 during the government of Jaffar el Mumeiri and continued until the present peace agreement with UN mediation in January 2005.