Implementation of Agreement with S. Sudan is indivisible: Khartoum

May 25, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese government Wednesday said the implementation of the cooperation agreement is indivisible and cannot be selective, ahead of meeting with South Sudanese officials to be held in Addis and Khartoum.

These statements come as a South Sudanese high level delegation led by the South Sudanese Defence Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk is expected in Khartoum on 7 June to discuss the implementation of the eight agreements and security arrangements particularly.

The eight agreements brokered by the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) include oil transit, security arrangements, four freedoms and border demarcation are signed on 27 September 2012.

In Khartoum, the coordination committee between the different panels tasked with the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement held a meeting chaired by the Sudanese Vice President Hasabo Abdel Rahman.

“The meeting stressed that the Cooperation Agreement does not accept division and selectivity. Its eight agreement must be enforced simultaneously” said the State Minister at the Sudanese presidency Haroun al-Rashid after the meeting.

He further called on the South Sudanese government to accelerate the works of it various committees to reach an agreement.

Since four year, the two countries have failed to implement the eight agreements except that one on the oil transit fees.

As it accuses Juba of supporting Sudanese rebels, Khartoum insists on the need to operaltionalize the demilitarized zone and to deploy the joint patrols in line with the security arrangements agreement.

Al-Rashid said the different subcommittees presented their reports on the implementation of the signed agreements. Also, the meeting discussed the needed efforts to reactivate the work with their counterpart bodies in South Sudan.

He added that the meeting discussed the ongoing preparations to hold the meeting of the Joint Political and Security Committee (JPSC) next month in Khartoum and the meeting of the Joint Border Demarcation Committee which will be held in Addis Ababa at the end of this month.

Earlier this year Sudan decided unilaterally to open border and allow cross border trade but two months later decided to suspend it and renewed accusations against Juba.

(ST)