Sudan's referendum on whether its south should separate from its north should be held in January as scheduled, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said today. His statement followed a meeting with the Sudanese state minister for foreign affairs, Kamal Hassan Ali, who is currently visiting Egypt. Abul Gheit said the National Congress and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement must agree on how to ensure the transparency and integrity of the referendum. He called on them to adopt measures allowing for the referendum to go ahead as scheduled. Egypt's Foreign Minister also stressed the importance of resolving issues such as the demarcation of borders, the appointment of a secretary-general for Sudan's election commission, and the implementation of the Popular Consultation Act in the Blue Nile and South Kurdufan states. A statement issued by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that Egypt and Sudan agree on the need to preserve peace and stability throughout Sudan by fostering good relations between the country's north and south. The statement also said the two countries agree that Sudan's two regions should work together as partners and benefit from their common natural resources and interests, regardless of the result of the referendum. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
