South Sudan’s FM briefs Ethiopian PM about recent talks with Khartoum
July 6, 2013 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan Foreign Affairs Minister and International Cooperation, Nhial Deng Nhial, said that there are promising developments towards a speedy implementation of agreements signed last year between the governments of Sudan and South Sudan.
Nhial made the remarks after separate meetings with his Ethiopian counterpart Tedros Adhanom and with Ethiopian Prime minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, on Friday in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
The South Sudanese minister briefed the Ethiopian officials on the current situation between Sudan and South Sudan and on the ongoing efforts to implement the cooperation agreement signed by in September 2012 et and implementation matrix of negotiations of March 2013.
Nhial in particular briefed the Ethiopian officials on the outcome of talks held by the South Sudanese vice-president, Riek Machar with his Sudanese counterpart Also Osman Taha during his visit last week to Khartoum.
During his two-day visit from 30 to 1 July, Machar aimed to ease tensions after Sudanese threat to halt the exportation of South Sudanese crude that runs via Sudan pipelines. Khartoum said Juba continues to support rebel groups.
Machar and Taha recommitted themselves to implement the signed deals and to activate all the mechanisms agreed to in these agreements including a joint committee to fix claims of support to rebel groups.
Khartoum and Juba trade accusations of supporting cross-border insurgents, which both deny.
The two sides have also agreed to resolve all pending post-split issues particularly Abyei and the border disputed areas where a buffer zone should be implemented.
Ethiopia provides all the soldiers of the UNISFA which tasked with the protection of civilians in Abyei and the protection of monitors from both countries in the demilitarized zone.
Ethiopia also as chair of the IGAD regional body brokered, jointly with the African Union mediation team headed by former South African president Thabo Mbeki, the signing of the Cooperation Agreement and the Implementation Matrix
After holding discussions with the Ethiopian officials, Nhial told reporters that South Sudan accepts the approach set by AU’s panel of the wise as a solution to narrow differences.
While requesting Ethiopia’s support, the South Sudanese minister affirmed that his country is ready to comply and implement with a team of delegations of the AU body expected to arrive in Juba soon.
Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn to his side said Ethiopia will continue to extend its support towards the implementation of previous agreements signed between North and South Sudan.
According to Ethiopia ministry of foreign affairs, Desalegn further assured the South Sudanese minister that Ethiopia also as IGAD chair will exert maximum support to the AU panel of the wise in the efforts to achieve sustainable peace between the two east African neighbours.
(ST)