S. Sudan engages with Russia to support African Union Abyei proposal ArticleComments (7) EmailPrintSave
December 7, 2012 (JUBA) – A senior member of the South Sudan government said on Thursday it is engaging with the Russian government to seek support for the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) proposal for the final status of the disputed Abyei region. “We have come to Moscow to engage the Russian government on the recent agreement with the government of Sudan, especially the AUHIP proposal on Abyei and security arrangements,” Luka Biong Deng; a senior member of South Sudan’s governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) told Sudan Tribune on Thursday. The Co-Chair of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee is a member of a high level delegation led by South Sudan’s lead negotiator in post independence discussions, Pagan Amum, visiting Russia for diplomatic engagements. Khartoum, rejects a decision of African Union Peace and Security Council (AUSPC) over Abyei referendum and accused the United Sates of pressing the African states to adopt it, and to refer it to the UN Security Council. Moscow showed willingness to support the Sudanese position over Abyei as Russian envoy to Africa Mikhail Margelov visited recently Khartoum several times to discuss the issue with the Sudanese officials. Khartoum also said it convinced the Council member states to not impose a decision that would provoke a return of war between the two sides. The AUPSC is expected to meet on 14 December to discuss Abyei issue and to decide whether or not it would refer the proposal to the UN Security Council (UNSC). “We have come with comrade Pagan to meet with senior government officials here. We are now in Moscow and we would like the Russian government to play a positive role in current discussions. The Russians need to support the proposal of the African Union on Abyei and also security arrangements,” Deng said from Moscow. Russia, a UNSC permanent member said favourable to allow the two parties more times to reach a negotiated solution stressing that imposing a decision would not be productive. South Sudanese foreign minister said earlier this week that supporting the African proposal would allow to avoid "endless talks" with Khartoum. Speaking to Russia Today TV - Arabic Service, Pagan Amum said the Sudanese government used to reject the different solutions and reports over Abyei since the singing of the 2005 peace agreement. The African Union Peace and Security Council’s (AUPSC) six-week deadline, given to Sudan and South Sudan to come to an agreement on the Thabo Mbeki proposal, has expired as of yesterday. Sudanese foreign minister, Ali Karti, told Khartoum’s parliament that African leaders do not see the reason why the issue of Abyei should be transferred to the UNSC, adding they accepted to privilege the position of his government calling to not impose a decision on the parties that might sitr up war between the two sides. Sudan in the past supported a previous proposal the African mediation had made in November 2010 providing to divide the disputed region between the two sides they fail to strike a deal on the participation of the nomads of the Misseriya tribe. (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.
