The leaders of South and North Sudan will accept the result of the upcoming referendum on the future of South Sudan if it conforms to democratic standards and reflects the real will of the people, Russian Presidential Envoy to Sudan and Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federation Council Mikhail Margelov told RIA Novosti on Friday.

Margelov is participating in the international conference Scenarios and Models of the Middle East Settlement in Malta. He arrived at the conference after a trip to Khartoum.

“Both parties agreed that even if they disagree [with the result of the referendum], they will not start a war and that the North and the South will accept any outcome of the referendum provided it is held in accordance with the standards of the African Union and the UN and its result will be recognized by the international community as a reflection of the real and democratic will of the people of South Sudan,” Margelov said.
Speaking about the likely outcome of the referendum scheduled for January 9, Margelov noted that most international experts tend to think that the majority will vote for the independence of South Sudan.

The international conference in Malta was organized by the Russian News & Information Agency RIA Novosti, the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Council for Foreign and Defense Policies, and is held under the auspices of the Middle East section of the International Discussion Club Valdai.

VALLETTA (Malta), December 10 (RIA Novosti)