Sudan’s Bashir reiterates priority of security issues with south in future talks
May 15, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir reaffirmed his country’s condition that any talks with South Sudan need to address security issues first before moving to other items.
This followed a military confrontation between the armies of Khartoum and Juba after the latter briefly occupied the contested oil-rich town of Heglig.
Sudanese officials say while they accept the resolution it can only be implemented after settling the security aspects of post-independence negotiations. Khartoum in particular wants Juba to stop its alleged support of rebels battling the Sudanese army in different parts of the country.
Bashir said today that Khartoum will not even discuss the crucial oil dispute with Juba unless security items are sorted out.
“The south shut down the pipelines to make us kneel but they closed it while we have the keys and we will not open it unless we guarantee our security 100%… and that there is no threat to our citizens and our borders,” Bashir told a rally to support the army.
South Sudan took with it 75% of the country’s oil reserves but it is dependent on the north which has the pipelines that extend to Port Sudan on the Red Sea.
The two sides failed to agree on the transit fees for the service prompting South Sudan to suspend its oil production after Khartoum started seizing part of the oil for what it calls unpaid fees. Oil is the lifeline for both economies.
Bashir’s remarks mark a departure from his statements last month in which he pledged never to allow South Sudan to export its oil.
“We don’t want fees from the oil of South Sudan and we will not open the pipeline,” Bashir said.
“There is no oil from South Sudan that will pass through our pure land, so that not one dollar goes to these criminals,” he added.
(ST)