June 30, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The governments of North and South Sudan signed an agreement today on establishing diplomatic relations following the country’s breakup next month.

South Sudan is due to become an independent African country on 9 July after voting for secession in a referendum agreed under a 2005 peace deal that ended decades of civil war.

The deputy foreign minister Rahmatalla Osman who met with South Sudan Undersecretary of regional cooperation Majok Walden told reporters that the choice of ambassadors is a political and procedural matter that will be determined in due course.

He further said that an agreement was reached on the technical frameworks that will govern the diplomatic relations between the two sides adding that special department will be created in the foreign ministry to deal with the South.

The space that will be allocated to the embassies of both countries reached an advanced stage, Osman said. He expressed the North’s willingness to help the South in having a foreign ministry that is up and running.

Majok on his end revealed that president Omer Hassan al-Bashir has been officially invited to the independence ceremony and will be the only head of state received by Salva Kiir at the airport.

He said that the signing of the first agreement between the North and South is out of a desire was to strengthen the eternal relations between the two sides. The Southern official pledged to engage in constructive diplomatic dialogue especially with regards to political issues between the two countries in the future.

Majok confirmed what presidential assistant Nafie Ali Nafie said yesterday about the nine months period given to Southerners in the North and Northerners in the South to seek necessary permits to stay and work or depart.

However he stressed that repatriation to South Sudan will be voluntary.

On relations with Israel, the minister said that South Sudan will focus initially on building ties with regional countries and pointed out that the Jewish state has no borders with them.

(ST)

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1 July 2011 10:08, by Sam.Eto

On a video recording obtained by the BBC, hundreds of fighters from Peter Gadet’s South Sudan Liberation Army (SSLA) jog rhythmically in a wide circle, singing and flaunting their new weapons.

The apparently joyous scenes in the video clash violently with a bloody reality: the rebel groups have fought on numerous occasions with the southern army, and represent a great threat to the stability of the new state.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13977178
- 1 July 2011 17:28, by Wen De David Kuol
  
  Whether to established Diplomatic Mission in South Sudan or not is nothing, Blue Nile, Abyei and South Kordofan will still drag the SOuth to War with he North addition of Rebellion created as Northern Based Wing to destablize the Southerners.
  
  I would support if we established with Jews then to Khartuom inorder for that hatred to queell down.
  
  So called SSLA is just Terrorist gangs who claims under slogan of corruption eradication but to Kill Civilians.War Crime is to ammended on them soon. They are agent of Lam Akol and Athor Deng, being baptize by Bashir to extended his Indicted List of ICC.
  
  Nuer who blindly follows Gatdet and So call Mayom Rebellion declaration is just like NAsir Declaration .
  
  Let us Celebrate with Peace and Joy, the New Nation.
  
  South Sudan Oyee,
  
  Mountain Boy,
1 July 2011 10:12, by Aleu

After what.? Why do we need to establishing relationship with bad people and bad government who have dislodging and invading Abyei and South Kordofan. I am against Khartoum relation with South Sudan and the leaders in Southern Sudan want to do it then, we the anti-Khartoum government will act this is not joking put in mind, Khartoum government is killing our people indirect and direct way and we do not want to have any relationship with this radicalized.
- 1 July 2011 11:07, by Bush
  
  @Aleu
  
  Kiir’s song of NO RETURN TO WAR is working now, the NCP wanted to drag the SPLM to war to delay the July 9 and prolong the sharing of oil. Now that they have seen it not working they want to engage seriously in building the diplomatic relationships with the South.
  
  Let’s give it a chance and see what will happen next, may those NCP will come to their senses one day and reason like human beings and behave like how people are suppose to.
  
  Christians United for Israel
  - 1 July 2011 13:26, by jubaone
    
    The Jellaba minister Rahmatalla Osman in a frantic move understands that the Rep. of South Sudan will definitely establish diplomatic ties with the state of Israel. It is our right to do so and will not ask anyone for permission. However, a few Jenge and Nyagat politicians in Juba seem to be reponsive to the appeal recently in early June 2011 of the Arab League representative in Juba for membership of RoSS into the league. The Arabs/Jellaba fear that a South Sudan-Israel axis would be fatal for them that´s why Khartoum at all costs wants better ties with South Sudan so as to thwart Jellaba anxiety of Israel´s presence in South Sudan.
    
    Juba must keep a low diplomatic representation of the Khartoum Jellaba state as well as other Arabs. Because such rogue states like Iran or Afghanistan only bring Taliban, i.e.
    "Iran + Afghanistan = Taliban" they have nothing to fetch here!
1 July 2011 11:36, by Madut Tong

I appreciate the move to have diplomatic relationships between these two states who once have lived for a very long time. however, I hope that the selecting of their diplomats should be in a wise way, so that both may not choose the extremist who will enlarge the chasm caused by the long war between these two regions. Please select the diplomats who will restore trust and faith in one another, not politicians who will seek their own welfare.

Congratulations for trying to continue your relationships which will last forever, as it has ever been.
- 1 July 2011 16:26, by Abyei Soil
  
  What inspired me to comment on this very news is the word of extension of diplomatic tie to the Land of Jews. It is really bad to limit ourselves movement to other state like the word "??? ??????? ??? ??????"?? in my Passport telling me all the countries I should visit in exception of Israel. It is not good idea to restrick south Sudanese a visit to Israel and vice versa. We like it, keep it up
  Great people of South Sudan.
  - 1 July 2011 16:35, by Abyei Soil
    
    What inspired me to comment on this very news is the word of extension of diplomatic tie to the Land of Jews. It is really bad to limit ourselves movement to other state like the word "?All countries except Israel?" in my Passport telling me all the countries I should visit in exception of Israel. It is not good idea to restrick south Sudanese a visit to Israel and vice versa. We like it, keep it up
    Great people of South Sudan.
1 July 2011 22:10, by Emmanuel Ajang Solomon

OK,OK.
Does the North knows what is called diplomatic relation with its neghbuors, or are we going to be different from the rest? Like what it used to do with most of the neghbouring countries.

I think what they are trying to do is like aying Kiir only to received Bashir at the Airport, what if he wants to die and blown our to be president up since he is going to Jail?

Kiir, should wait for him after security people have check him like our other guest.Khartoum is buying time to make sure Athour Deng Dut is near to his place or target to hit.

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