South Sudanese delegation expected Thursday in Khartoum
March 20, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — A South Sudanese delegation is expected tomorrow in Khartoum to hold a series of meetings with the Sudanese officials to prepare a presidential summit over the outstanding issues scheduled to take place in Juba next month.
Presidents Omer al-Bashir and Salva Kiir will hold a presidential summit on 3 April in Juba where they will sign two deals one related to the border demarcation and the other granting four freedoms for the nationals of the two countries comprising freedom of movement, residence, ownership and work.
The four freedoms agreement raised controversy in Khartoum as radical Islamist and far right groups slammed the deal and called on President Bashir to reject it arguing that Juba is not a friendly government and it has to prove it deserves it.
Sudan foreign minister stated earlier last week that, security talks should take place between the two countries before to sign the four freedoms deal initiated on 13 March by the two parties participating in Addis Ababa process on the pending issues.
Ali Karti said the security talks should treat the issue of rebel groups operating in South Kordofan and allegedly supported by the South Sudan and the situation of Sudanese refugees in the neighbouring country.
The Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee at the Sudanese parliament, Mohamed el-Hassan Alamin stated Tuesday that critics of the four freedoms agreement with the South did not understand the declared and undeclared details of the agreement
He reaffirmed that the two deals are supported by the Sudanese president and the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).
Alamin stressed that Sudan opened its doors to some neighbouring countries let alone the South Sudan which was part of the country until July 2011.
However, he pointed to the existence of some points and terms that need to be amended including the right to own property.
(ST)