Officials hopeful of positive outcome on Bashir-Kiir talks
September 2, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese and South Sudan officials expect that this week’s summit between the two presidents Omer Al-Bashir and Salva Kiir will yield positive results, stressing the political will from both sides.
Following the welcoming ceremony, the two sides will kick off official talks at Friendship Hall to discuss bilateral relations and common interests between the two countries including oil, security, trade and investment.
Undersecretaries at the foreign ministries of the two countries, Rahamtalla Mohamed Osman and Charles Manyang held a last meeting in Khartoum on Monday where they finalised preparations of the visit.
Sudan’s Osman told reporters after the meeting that the political will from both sides to overcome the existing issues would strengthen bilateral relations. He said anticipates the two leaders would move to a “language of common interests”.
He further pointed to the existence of consensus on all the issues raised during the meetings with his South Sudanese counterpart, adding that the participation of businessmen from the two countries in the talks is an important step, which reflects a genuine desire to communicate in the field of economics and trade.
Manyang mintained the issue of Abyei will not hinder talks between the two leaders, although it will be top of the agenda during discussions .
“As diplomats, we do not speak about the obstacles and we work to overcome it. Our goal is to find an appropriate solution satisfactory to both parties”, he told reporters.
(ST)