Norway makes 500-million-dollar pledge at Sudan donor conference

from Monsters and Critics

Donor countries and international agencies Tuesday met with representatives of the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) to discuss new aid commitments to shore up a three-year old peace deal on Sudan.

Norway, hosting the meeting that ends Wednesday, helped broker the 2005 peace deal that ended a two decade long civil war and Oslo also hosted a donor meeting in April 2005.

'A lot has been done but more has to done,' Norway's Environmnent and International Development Minister Erik Solheim said, noting the need to integrate the former SPLA rebel forces with the Sudan army.

Citing his experience as mediator in other conflicts, Solheim underlined the need for 'political will' to achieve progress.

Solheim said Sudan was heading for a more 'volatile' period with elections due next year, adding that 'the international community was ready to assist in organizing free and fair elections.'

Like several other speakers at the meeting - chaired by Sudan, the government of southern Sudan and the organizers, the World Bank and the United Nations - Solheim also touched on the conflict in Darfur warning it had implications for the overall peace process.

'Long-term development aid' aimed for north Sudan and south Sudan had been 'diverted' for humanitarian aid to Darfur, Solheim said.

Solheim jump-started the pledging session due Wednesday saying Oslo would pledge 500 million dollars for the coming four-year period.

Sudan's Second Vice President Ali Osman Taha urged delegates to make 'robust' pledges, saying Sudan needed to know what funds were available for development projects.

UN Deputy Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro said in her remarks that 'reintegration funding must be in place before demobilization takes place.'