UN special envoy urges deal over Abyei status
September 6, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Haile Menkerios, urged the two countries to reach an agreement ending their dispute over Abyei region where a referendum has to be held to determine the fate of the region.
Menkerios “commends the constructive spirit the presidents displayed at the summit and the agreement in relation to the transportation of oil, while urging them to find a compromise on the final status of Abyei as soon as possible”, said Farhan haq, associate spokesperson for Ban Ki-moon.
The chairman of the African Union Commission Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on Wednesday welcomed the outcome of Bashir-Kiir summit and called on “all stakeholders and the citizens of both countries to continue to support their leaders in their efforts to address the outstanding challenges”.
The presidents Omer Al-Bashir and Salva Kiir reiterated on Tuesday 3 September their commitment to implement the cooperation agreements and activated all the joint committees working on its implementation.
Also, the Sudanese president clearly indicated that his government will not stop the flow of South Sudanese crude to the international market and his oil minister Awad Al-Jaz addressed a letter to all the companies indicating the removal of the deadline of 6 September.
European Union foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, in a statement released on Friday hailed the 3 September summit and welcomed the commitment of presidents Bashir and Kiir to support and facilitate the work of the two mechanisms established by the chief mediator Thabo Mbeki to address the security concerns of both Parties.
She further encouraged the two neighbours to “continue their constructive dialogue to normalise their relations”, stressing on that “peaceful relations are essential for the development of both countries and the well-being of their people”.
(ST)