The senior United Nations envoy in Sudan held talks today with one of the country's Vice-Presidents on how to resolve the remaining obstacles to implementing the January 2005 comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) that ended the long-running civil war between north and south.

Ashraf Qazi, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sudan, met with Ali Osman Taha in Khartoum, according to the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).

Their discussions focused on the efforts of the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), the parties to the CPA, to resolve the pending issues from the agreement and revive their partnership in a Government of National Unity.

Mr. Qazi then headed to Juba, southern Sudan, for a two-day visit during which he is scheduled to hold talks with Salva Kiir Mayardit, the First Vice-President of Sudan and the President of the Government of Southern Sudan, and other senior officials in the region. He is also expected to meet SPLM Secretary-General Pagan Amoum.

UNMIS said these talks will also focus on resolving the pending issues between the two parties so that the integrity of the CPA can be resolved and the current crisis between the NCP and the SPLM can come to a swift end. Last month the SPLM had withdrawn from the Government of National Unity.