South Sudan opens liaison office in Washington
By Miyong Kuon
Jan 16, 2007 (WASHINGTON) — The Government of Southern Sudan, Minister of Regional Cooperation Barnaba Marial Benjamin has officially opened the Government of Southern Sudan’s Mission office to United States in Washington on Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at watch full eyes of the United States high level officials.
Among the high level officials, was the US special envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios, former Senator majority leader Bill Frist, Congressman Donald Payne, the US based SSBIN reported.
“Indeed, the launching of Liaison Office on the Second Anniversary of the Signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is a great milestone towards our commitment in the implementation of the CPA. The government of Southern Sudan shall establish, develop and maintain good relations and cooperation with foreign governments, Foreign Non-governmental organizations, and association for mutual advantage in trade, investment, culture, sports, education credit, loans, grants, technical assistance and other fields of development cooperation.”
Natsios who cut the ribbon told the gathering that, for Sudan, we should focus on positives things of the CPA. Of course, the peace is signed and that in of itself is positive. Since the peace was signed, the war actually stopped and thousand of thousand of people are now returning home.
However, Roger Winter, former special representative on Sudan for the deputy secretary of state, did not agreed with Natsios’s statement. Though it’s true the situation in the Darfur needs attention, South Sudan is not out of the wood yet. “It’s fine to chew gum and walk at the same time.” Meaning, while the Government of the United States is vocal about the crisis in Darfur, the United States must at the same time makes sure the Darfur crisis does not sidelined the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in the South. Election is at the corner in South Sudan, yet US Government hasn’t done any thing tangible in part to help prepare the South with the coming election.
Ezikiel Lol Gatkuoth, who officially became the head of the mission today highly, expressed his gratitude and many thanks to American friends, the Government of the United States for recognizing “the two missions from the same country (Sudan) to operate here in Washington”. Gatkuoth extended his thanks to the members of Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) who played a crucial role in the bringing about of the CPA.
Southern Sudan liaison offices abroad work under the authority of the Ministry for Regional Cooperation. They have no diplomatic status. They shall only be entitled to diplomatic privileges and immunities if they become part and parcel of Sudan’s diplomatic mission to the country concerned.
The purpose of the Liaison Office in United States will evidently enhances a better relation between the Government of Southern Sudan with its expatriate’s communities living in the United States. It will foster future bilateral ties with United States.
The Government of Southern Sudan is expecting to other offices in United Kingdom, Ethiopia, and Kenya before the end of the year.
(SSBIN.com)