South Sudan seeks observer status in international and regional bodies
July 5, 2008 (JUBA) — South Sudan’s government applied for observer status of several international bodies, including the United Nations and regional organizations, to boost trade ties.
This status would allow southern Sudan to attend meetings and monitor what’s happening in these bodies and benefit from some of the privileges, but would not give them full membership and the right to participate in the decision making process.
In accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the Southern Sudan government can 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.
Since its establishment and in order to implement this clause, the Ministry for Regional Cooperation in the semi-autonomous southern Sudan government has opened some liaison offices in the USA, Egypt and Brussels. These offices 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 CPA “allows the southern Sudan to to apply for observer status with international political and economic organizations,” South Sudan’s Minister of Regional Cooperation Benjamin Marial told Sudan Radio service.
“Our trade now is mostly with east Africa and so we want to benefit from the east African community as the government of Southern Sudan,” he said. “We have even applied for observer status to the Arab League, the African Union and the United Nations.”
In September 2007, Eastern African police chiefs have turned down Southern Sudan’s request to join their cooperation. The regional police bosses, under the Eastern African Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO), had been meeting in Bujumbura, Burundi where Southern Sudan had forwarded their admission request.
EAPCCO Secretariat Legal Officer, Michael Wiso, said that international law restricts them to allow Southern Sudan to be registered as a member because southern Sudan government is not a sovereign state.
(ST)
Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
South Sudan seeks observer status in international and regional bodies
Where is Kuol who was talking about making tight relation with Ethiopia, why don’t you go with jonglei people and make your own relation, we need people like Benjamin good idea Mr Benjamin, East Africa will never quit their relation with S.Sudan particularly Kenya and Uganda. Therefore I would like to inform those of Goss ministers to ensure that Michael Wiso is aware with South as an independent state and he should be able to allow any necessary steps/process which are requested by Southern Sudan gov, because everything such as self determination of SS where all agreed on the CPA protocol, and he must understand about which way are heading Unity or Separation?. But talking about S.Sudan making any contact with Arab countries such as Arab league has never been a nice choice, it is like bringing a fuel to burn with our nation.