Sudan, South Sudan may resume border demarcation talks soon: diplomat
May 11, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – The technical and political committees for borders demarcation with Sudan would resume their meetings by the end of this month, said a South Sudanese on Wednesday.
The South Sudanese diplomat said that the members of the border demarcation committees were recently appointed after the formation of the new transitional government in Juba.
On Tuesday, Khartoum renewed accusations that the government in Juba resumed its support to the Sudanese rebel groups and delaying the implementation of the signed agreements.
Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ibrahim Ghandour, said that his government wants to build a strong and good relation with South Sudan. But he added that “Juba is still hosting and supporting Darfur rebel groups despite the security agreement signed between the two countries since 2012,”.
Khartoum considers the implementation of the security agreement reached within the framework of the Cooperation Agreement of 27 September 2012 is key for the enforcement of the other deals.
President Omer al-Bashir unilaterally decided to open the border with Juba earlier this year but ordered its closure after reports meetings between Sudanese rebel leaders and high ranking South Sudanese officials in Juba.
The Cooperation Agreement includes, oil transit, security arrangements, border demarcation, four freedoms, banking and other joint matters.
“Implementing the agreements signed between Khartoum and Juba helps building social, political, economic and security ties and promote trust between Khartoum and Juba.,” said Ambassador Kowner Mageer.
On a related development, the head of European Union Delegation in Khartoum, Tomas Ulicny, called on Sudan and South Sudan to commit themselves to the agreements signed between the two countries.
During his meeting with Vice President Hassabo Mohamed Abd al-Rahman on Wednesday in Khartoum, Ulicny confirmed that EU is looking for a partnership with Sudan to prevent the spread of terrorism in the Horn of Africa.
Abd al-Rahman expressed Sudan’s interest to develop relation with Europe to serve joint interests and to coordinate with EU on all the common issues, according to the official news agency, SUNA.
The European diplomat referred to the recent development of Sudan, EU relation and called for cementing it further.