Juba confirms joint security meeting with Khartoum
July 28, 2013 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese army on Sunday confirmed the repeatedly delayed and long-awaited joint security meeting with counterparts from neighbouring Sudan will take place Monday.
“It will be co-chaired on our side by Major General Mac Paul and possibly director of intelligence and security service on the side of the government of Sudan”, he added.
Aguer, however, said Juba had not yet received names of the Sudanese delegation earmarked for the security meeting.
Khartoum accuses Juba of supporting rebels fighting its government in South Kordofan and Blue Nile state, an allegation the latter denies.
“The agenda of the meeting will discuss how to handle accusations and counter accusations which the two sides have been exchanging over allegations that each side provide support to the rebels fighting to destabilise or try to remove the other party in power,” Aguer revealed.
On our side, we have said time and again [that] we do not provide any support to any armed groups, but the other side continues to make unfounded claims, he added.
“It is not our interest to destabilise any country”.
Last month, the issue of allege rebel support prompted Sudan to announce it would close the pipelines carrying crude oil from landlocked South Sudan by 7 August.
But at the request of the African Union and China, Sudan agreed to extend the deadline by two weeks.
(ST)