"the government side, however, refused the opposition's demand to have either a co-chairman or a neutral person chair the talks, sources in the meeting said."
"Thursday's meeting is likely to be seen as a victory for the group of seven opposition teams, also called the G7, which had earlier walked out of the talks."

****

----- Original Message ----- 
From: George Okurapa 
To: [log in to unmask] 
Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2004 12:58 AM
Subject: Govt. accepts party demands


From THE MONITOR February 14, 2004

Govt accepts party demands
By Mwanguhya C. Mpagi
Feb 14, 2004

      KAMPALA - Government has accepted three of four demands made by the opposition for talks on the roadmap to 2006.

      The talks, which are expected to discuss the transition to multiparty politics in 2006, had earlier collapsed after government rejected the demands.

      However, following a lengthy meeting on Thursday night at Fairway Hotel, which went on until 9 p.m., government allowed the opposition groups to consult with their supporters at the grassroots.

      Sources who attended the meeting told The Monitor that government also granted an opposition demand to have a joint secretary to record the minutes of the meetings - as well as the crucial demand that the decisions made are binding to both government, the parties, and the executive.

      The National Political Commissar, Dr Crispus Kiyonga, who convened the talks and heads the government side, however, refused the opposition's demand to have either a co-chairman or a neutral person chair the talks, sources in the meeting said.

      Thursday's meeting is likely to be seen as a victory for the group of seven opposition teams, also called the G7, which had earlier walked out of the talks.

      The G7 includes the Democratic Party, Uganda Peoples Congress, Reform Agenda, 

      The Free Movement, the National Democrats Forum and the Justice Forum.

      Although the government side courted and held meetings with four smaller political groups, those talks lacked the credibility offered by the more established parties in the G7. 

      The Thursday talks that ended the deadlock began at 6 p.m. and ended at 8 50 p.m. Dr Kiyonga said little after the meeting.

      "All I can say is that we made some progress and we are going to continue discussing." 

      Pressed to give details, Kiyonga said; "We agreed not to give you details [but] the good thing is that we met and we are going to meet again." 

      The leader of the G7 delegation, Dr John Jean Barya told The Monitor that progress had been made in the meeting but did not give details.

      The two teams meet again next week to iron out the remaining differences before the talks begin in earnest. 
     


© 2004 The Monitor Publications

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