Although Cairo is adamant about steering clear of the upcoming Sudanese peace talks, it still wants to be involved in helping to resolve the conflict. Soha Abdelaty reports Ever since last July, when a peace agreement was forged between warring Sudanese factions, Egypt has insisted that it will have nothing to do with a process to which it was not party. Its own peace initiative, the 1999 Egyptian-Libyan initiative, has been shelved, replaced by the only peace proposal currently on the table: the afore- mentioned Egyptian-less Machakos peace talks. At the same time, Egyptian, Sudanese and US officials all insist that even though Egypt might not be part of these talks, Cairo still has a role to play when it comes to seeking an end to the Sudanese conflict -- even if this means cheering from the side- lines. Over the past month, Egyptian-Sudanese relations have witnessed an acceleration of exchanges between officials of the two countries. Egypt is calling this a "new beginning", considering the deterioration in the ties between the two countries that took place after the Machakos peace talks were signed. Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher also took advantage of Arab League meetings in Khartoum this week to meet with Sudanese officials on bilateral issues. Maher delivered a letter from President Hosni Mubarak to his Sudanese counterpart, Omar Al-Bashir, on Monday, and held talks with other Sudanese officials, including the Sudanese president's peace advisor, Ghazi Salaheddin, Vice-President Aly Othman Taha, and Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismail. Maher said that these meetings were a continuation of talks held earlier this month in Khartoum between Sudanese officials and an Egyptian delegation. The delegation, headed by Information Minister Safwat El-Sherif, was in Khartoum for Sudanese independence day celebrations as well as a discussion of means to boost bilateral economic cooperation. Although it may appear that Egypt and Sudan are turning a new leaf in their bilateral relations, Maher warned that such a step must be taken with caution. After his meeting with Taha, the Egyptian foreign minister said, "it is important to begin with modest steps that confirm that Egypt is concerned about Sudan." Although Sudan has always been a priority for Egyptian diplomacy, Maher hinted that recent differences over Machakos inspired some to believe otherwise. Egypt's concern for Sudan "would not need confirmation" had it not been for certain "circumstances and attempts to shake the conviction that we work with Sudan to achieve the same goals", Maher said. Despite reassurances from all sides, the role Egypt might play remains unclear, especially because it refuses to take part in the Machakos talks, currently the main forum for discussing the Sudanese conflict. Egyptian and Sudanese officials have not elaborated on Egypt's role, but are insisting that they have the main guidelines covered. "We agree on the same goal: establishing peace in Sudan and having a unified Sudan where all its people live equally and enjoy the same rights," Maher said on Sunday, when asked to detail Egypt's role outside of the Machakos talks. Egypt first became re-engaged in the conflict last September, when it appeared that the Machakos peace talks were set for failure. Back then, Sudanese officials in Cairo spoke of the importance of Egyptian re- engagement. "Egypt's absence from the Machakos agreement was the main reason behind its failure," Sudanese Foreign Minister Ismail said. "My government is keen for a strong Egyptian presence... The coming period will witness comprehensive coordination so that Egypt will be present with all its influence," he added. Reactivating the Egyptian-Libyan peace initiative was an option placed on the table. But when the US- brokered talks resumed, that option disappeared. "The peace process led by [Kenya] is where the action is," US envoy to Sudan John Danforth said on Sunday. Danforth was in Cairo ahead of his fourth tour of the region. Cairo has also come to terms with that. "The Egyptian-Libyan initiative is a set of principles which we work to implement," Maher said in Sudan on Monday. "There are ongoing parallel efforts that seek to implement the same principles. What concerns us is the goal, not the means, and Egypt is always ready to cooperate with our Sudanese brethren to achieve the goals on which the Egyptian-Libyan initiative was based." Egypt finally decided to accept the Machakos agreement after receiving reassurances from both Sudan and the US that the country's unity will be emphasised during the talks. "I was relieved after realising the US supports a reconciliation between the North and South, and realises the importance of asking both sides to cooperate in a spirit of unity and brotherhood," Maher said after meeting with Danforth on Sunday. Under the Machakos Protocol, which was endorsed by Sudanese President Al-Bashir and Southern People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) leader John Garang on 20 July, southern Sudan will be granted a six- year period of administrative autonomy and will not be subject to Islamic law applied in the Arab north. After the six years are through, animists and Christians, who form a majority in the south -- along with a Muslim minority -- will vote in a referendum on whether they wish to remain part of Sudan, or secede. The US, for its part, is suggesting a post- Sudanese-conflict role for Egypt. "Any encouragement and support we can give to a strong, vital, sustainable Sudan after the completion of the peace talks is positive," Danforth said. "I think Egypt is essential in that," he added. In fact, Egypt is already looking into encouraging the development of the southern region. But Danforth also voiced his fears that if the warring Sudanese factions do not shape up and reach a peace agreement within six months, the US is likely to lose interest in the conflict.
