To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) progress in relation to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan and (b) the long-term outlook for Sudan, with particular reference to recent reports of resources from sharing oil revenues. (291402)

The UK welcomes progress that has been made in recent months towards implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). This includes acceptance by both the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the National Congress Party (NCP) of the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in relation to the Abyei area and both parties’ commitment to implement the decision.

The UK also welcomes the signing by the SPLM and NCP. under the facilitation of US Envoy General Gration, of the “Points of Agreement” document on the outstanding CPA milestones. We are concerned however that further progress is required on several critical issues, including agreement of the census results, preparations for the elections in April 2010 and for the referendum on self-determination for South Sudan in 2011. The UK is working closely with both parties and with international partners to press for implementation of the outstanding issues.