Sudan and South Sudan hold comprehensive talks over unresolved issues
July 18, 2012 (KHARTOUM)— Talks over all unresolved issues will start on Thursday in line with a strategic framework endorsed earlier this month, as the parties are now at 14 day exactly from a deadline fixed by the UN security Council. OmerDahab , spokesperson of the Sudanese negotiating team (SUNA) Sudan was sticking to the security-first approach asking South Sudan to stop supporting Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N) and to expel Darfur rebel groups. Also, Khartoum continued to reject a map proposed by the mediation to operationalise a buffer zone on the common border delaying the implementation of the security arrangements. During their meeting of 14 July the presidents Omer Al-Bashir and Salva Kiir agreed on the need to make bold decisions and instructed their delegations to decide what is good for the interest of the two countries through direct discussions. " The positive atmosphere in the meetings has been strengthened now in (venue of the talks) Bahir Dar, due in our opinion to the agreement on strategic approach to resolving all outstanding issues between the two countries. But, also due to the meeting that took place between President Omer Al-Bashir and President Salva Kiir of South Sudan in Addis Ababa during the week," said the spokesperson of the Sudanese negotiating delegation Omer Dahab. Dahab told the official news agency (SUNA) that the heads of the two delegations, Sudan’s defense minister Abdel-Rahim Hussein and South Sudan’s top negotiator Pagan Amum held a series of meetings with a small number of delegates on Wednesday. "The two sides agreed to address all issues in a comprehensive manner where they will focus on the details of the comprehensive strategic approach" that the parties adopted on 7 July. Al-Bashir During a meeting of the African Union Peace and security Council on 14 July repeated his rejection of a map prepared by the mediation for the demilitarised zone. The issue seemingly has altered relations between Sudan and the mediation. The strategic approach is a result of direct meetings between the two parties without the mediation. Sources close to the talks in Addis Ababa, said Juba fears that the 7 July framework might be used tactically by Khartoum to avoid compliance with UN resolution 2046. The African Union mediation team now seeks to hold another presidential summit during the upcoming days to present a package of propositions they intend to file to the Security Council on 2 August. The summit, sources said, also means to remind the two parties that the talks are held in accordance with the AU roadmap and the UN resolution. (ST) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
