Referendum Must Be Held On Time: US Envoy

The President of the Government of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit yesterday met the United States Special Envoy to Sudan General Scott Gration in his office in Juba.

General Gration arrived in Juba yesterday for an official visit to South Sudan.

Briefing the press after the meeting, General Gration told reporters that the meeting was very productive, describing it as one of the fruitful meetings with his friend General Salva Kiir Mayardit.

He said their talks ranged on various issues, but stressed that there are only 68 days to he January referendum.

“We want make sure that this referendum takes place on time, is peaceful and reflects the will of the South Sudanese people in such a way that the result are accepted and implemented by all the people of the Sudan and the international community”, he said.

“We also talked about other aspects of negotiation that is taking place between the North and the South together with the African Union high level implementation panel”.

He said they also discussed the protection of the northerners in the south and southerners in the north, adding that the referendum is a very important issue for the US Administration and the international community.

“The US would like to see that the right of our people is protected during this transition period”, he said.

He said the meeting also discussed the contentious about Abyei and border demarcation and many other issues related to stability of both South and North Sudan after the referendum.

This is the fifth time this year that General Gration has met President Kiir.

President Kiir was joined at the meeting by the Cabinet Affairs Minister Kosti Maibe, Peace and CPA Implementation Minister Pagan Amum, Regional Cooperation Minister Deng Alor and Minister in the office of the President Cirino Hiteng.