SUDAN / BASHIR JUBA

Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir arrives in southern Sudan's capital Juba five days before the 9 January self-determination referendum. The President's tells Southerners that his government shall "consider the new state in the south and I will accept it." UNMIS

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:30
• Production Date: 4 January 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION IN SUDAN - UNMIS
• Subject Topical: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; PEACE AND SECURITY; REFERENDUM
• Geographic Subject: SUDAN
• MAMS Id: U110104b

Description

STORY: SUDAN / BASHIR JUBA
TRT: 2:30
SOURCE: UNMIS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ARABIC / NATS

DATELINE: 4 JANUARY 2010, JUBA, SUDAN

1. Med shot, sign reading “Juba” at the Juba international airport
2. Wide shot, plane carrying Sudanese President Bashir
3. Med shot, President Bashir disembarking
4. Close up, reflection of a soldiers sun glasses
5. Wide shot, President Bashir and First Vice President and President of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir taking a salute
7. Med shot, President Bashir and Salva Kiir on the podium
8. Close up, soldier holding the flag of Sudan at the guard of honor
9. Wide shot, President Bashir and Salva Kiir at the parade
10. Med shot, President Bashir at the matching
11. Close up, President Bashir
12. Wide shot, President Bashir greeting dignitaries at the airport
13. Wide shot, people waving flags and chanting
14. Wide shot, a crowd waving as Bashir’s motorcade drives by
15. Wide shot, exterior of conference hall
16. Wide shot, President Bashir meeting with Southern Sudan Council of Ministers
17. Med shot, President Bashir and First Vice President Salva Kiir at the meeting
18. Close up of sign reading Government of Southern Sudan
19. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Omer Al-Bashir, President, Sudan:
20. Wide shot, ministers at the meeting
21. Med shot, dignitaries in the room
22. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Omer Al-Bashir, President, Sudan:
23. Med shot, ministers during the meeting
24. Wide shot, President Bashir arriving for a press conference
25. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Omer Al-Bashir, President, Sudan:
26. Wide shot, journalists at the press event

STORY:

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir arrived in Southern Sudan’s capital, Juba, five days before the country’s upcoming self-determination referendum.

Upon arrival President Bashir, dressed in traditional southern robes, was greeted by President of Government of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir, senior southern politicians, diplomats, religious leaders and a guard of honour from the combined armed forces of north and south Sudan.

Thousands of people gathered outside the airport to welcome the President, shouting slogans for separation and waving southern Sudanese flags. The atmosphere was jubilant.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Omer Al-Bashir, President, Sudan:
“Because our interest for unity is a channel for power, security, advancement and change in the Sudan. But if the southerners decide to separate, well and good.”

Addressing the Southern Sudanese Council of Ministers, Bashir said unity was the best choice for the southerners, but he also insisted that if the south secedes from the north, he wanted good relations with the region.

He mentioned that the links between north and south Sudan were unique and reiterated his support for the referendum result. He added that Khartoum will support the south even if it separates from the north.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Omer Al-Bashir, President, Sudan:
"Anything you need in terms of technical, logistical or professional support from Khartoum, you will find us ready to give it. We shall also consider the new state in the south and I will accept it."

A parallel referendum on the oil rich town of Abyei still remains contentious with both parties to the CPA not in agreement on who should vote.

Talking about Abyei to journalists before his departure to Khartoum, President Bashir said that Abyei belongs to the Dinka Ngok and other citizens.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Omer Al-Bashir, President, Sudan:
“On Abyei issue, according to the CPA protocol, Abyei belongs to the Dinka Ngok and other citizens. No other constitution can change that.”

The Abyei referendum is also meant to take place on the 9 January but nothing has been put in place yet for the vote.

More than 3.7 million southerners are registered to participate in the referendum, which will give them the chance to vote on whether to remain united with the north or secede.

Voting is due to start on Sunday, 9 January and will last for a week.

The referendum is a key milestone of the 2005 north-south peace deal that ended a devastating 22-year of civil war in which some two million people were killed and another four million displaced.