Following Failure to Hold Pre-Dialogue Meeting on Sudan, Secretary-General Stresses Talks as Vital towards Addressing Root Causes of Crises

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General expresses his disappointment at the failure to hold the Sudanese pre-dialogue meeting in Addis Ababa as a result of the decision of the ruling National Congress Party and its allies not to attend the meeting.

The Secretary-General stresses that a fully inclusive, free and transparent dialogue is critical to addressing the root causes of the recurrent crises in Sudan and achieving sustainable peace.  This pre-dialogue meeting would have been an important step in this regard.

The Secretary-General urges all stakeholders to continue to engage constructively towards the early convening of a credible and inclusive national dialogue.

The Secretary-General expresses his appreciation to the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel for its tireless efforts on Sudan and South Sudan and reaffirms the continued full support and partnership of the United Nations.