Turkey, S. Sudan keen on boosting ties
April 2, 2013 (JUBA) – A delegation from South Sudan has arrived in Turkey to brief its government on the progress of negotiations with Sudan aimed at ending ongoing tensions between the two neighbouring countries, the Turkish foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
Davutoglu met with Amum, South Sudan’s chief negotiator, after his arrival in Ankara on Tuesday, with discussions focusing on Turkey-South Sudan relations and the status of ongoing talks between South Sudan and Sudan.
Amum is also expected to attend a number of meetings with Davutoglu in Ankara and Istanbul, covering bilateral relations and the latest situation between South Sudan and Sudan, the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.
South Sudan’s ambassador to Turkey, John Gai Yoh, said Ankara has been a vital partner in mediating ongoing disputes with Sudan, telling Turkish newspaper Today’s Zaman last month that the country has an “advantageous position” in the region due to its historic ties to Sudan.
Sudan also called for Turkey’s help with conflict resolution in December.
South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after both sides signed a peace deal, ending a protracted civil war spanning more than two decades. Although both sides have continued to teeter on the brink of war since then.
The countries signed an implementation matrix for cooperation agreements last month aimed at resolving outstanding conflicts, demarcating border areas, concluding security arrangements and restarting oil production.
Tensions remain high, however, with South Sudan accusing its neighbour on Monday of “deliberately” launching an attack on an area in its border state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal that lies inside a demilitarised zone separating both countries.
Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir is expected to visit South Sudan’s capital Juba later this this month to continue peace negotiations particularly with regards to outstanding issues such as Abyei border region.
Davutoglu said that South Sudan had a strategic location on the African continent, adding that Turkey attaches great importance to its relations with the young nation and is ready to cooperate in all matters.
The Turkish minister said his country’s regional and global foreign policy vision continued to be based on peace and stability.
In this regard, he said Turkey considers Sudan and South Sudan as its close friends and is willing to contribute to the development of relations between both countries.
Amum reiterated to the foreign minister that his country is ready to maintain close ties with Turkey and to benefit from the opportunities of bilateral and trilateral cooperation, pointing out that South Sudan closely follows Turkey and its active foreign policy.
He further said that South Sudan considers Turkey an important partner in trade and investment.
(ST)