[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 2 (Monday, January 17, 2005)]
[Page 33]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation 
Movement Comprehensive Peace Agreement

January 9, 2005

    I congratulate the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's 
Liberation Movement on the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement. I 
thank all the officials of the United States Government who have worked 
hard to help achieve this agreement, including Secretary of State Colin 
Powell, former Special Envoy for Sudan, Ambassador John Danforth, and 
the Special Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, USAID Administrator 
Andrew Natsios. I also thank the Intergovernmental Authority on 
Development, which sponsored the talks, and the Government of Kenya, 
which hosted them, and the Governments of Norway and the United Kingdom 
and the African Union, which played constructive roles for peace.
    Both sides should be proud of this accomplishment. The difficult 
work of implementation must now begin. Only the implementation of this 
agreement in good faith can result in long-term peace and development.
    As we celebrate this positive movement toward peace in the 
longstanding North-South conflict, we remember the conflict in Darfur 
and the suffering it causes. This comprehensive peace agreement should 
serve as an inspiration and model for both sides in their work toward 
negotiating a peaceful resolution of the Darfur conflict. I call on the 
Government of Sudan and on all Darfur rebel groups to live up to their 
cease-fire commitments, to end atrocities, and to allow the free 
movement of humanitarian workers and supplies. The United States will 
continue to assist the people of Darfur in reaching a just and lasting 
peace.