Sudan-South Sudan political and security meetings begin in Khartoum
June 5, 2016 (KHARTOUM) – Senior diplomatic and security officials from Sudan and South Sudan Sunday have engaged in consultations in Khartoum at the outset of the Joint Political and Security Committee (JPSC) meeting in a bid to normalize bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries.
The JPSC meetings were adjourned several times due to the security situation in South Sudan.
On Sunday, the South Sudanese delegation for the JPSC meeting including the Defence Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk, the Minister of Interior, Alfred Lado Gore and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Deng Alor Kuol has arrived in Khartoum.
Following meeting with his Sudanese counterpart Ibrahim Ghandour, Kuol told reporters that the two nations enjoy special relationship pointing however that these relations face some obstacles and problems.
South Sudan’s top diplomat added that he conveyed a message from President Salva Kiir Mayardit to President Omer al-Bashir asking for the need to overcome the outstanding issues between the two countries and to amend previous stances in order to realize the interests of the two peoples and nations.
“President Kiir stressed that the outstanding issues must be resolved as soon as possible and the status quo can’t continue,” he said.
Kuol further said that he agreed with Ghandour on most of the issues under discussion, pointing that his country seeks to learn from the Sudanese experience.
He added the priority is now given to implementing the directives of President Kiir to immediately settle the outstanding issues and then engage in the areas of cooperation and development of ties.
In September 2012, both Sudan and South Sudan signed a series of Cooperation Agreements, which covered oil, citizenship rights, security issues, banking, border trade among others.
In March 2013, the two countries signed an implementation matrix for these agreements.
The two nations completed 80% of the North-South border demarcation process since 2010 as the matter was crucial before to run the self-determination referendum.
However the remaining disputed border areas have delayed the implementation of the security arrangements which Khartoum sees central for the normalization process between the two countries.
Last week, Khartoum renewed its demand for the full implementation of the Cooperation Agreements stressing it should be “indivisible”. Sudanese officials say Juba only implemented the oil transit agreement.
Also, Sudan recently closed again the border with South Sudan and renewed accusations that Juba continues to support the Sudanese armed groups.
South Sudan’s top diplomat further pointed that he discussed with Ghandour joint coordination in regional and international forums particularly with regard to the African Union and East African Region.
For his part, Ghandour affirmed that new spirit has prevailed at the JSPC meetings and his meeting with Kuol to end the outstanding issues between the two countries.
He pointed that he discussed with Kuol the role that could be played by the foreign ministries to promote bilateral ties and follow up on the regional and international agreements besides the continued consultations on issues of common concern.
The Sudanese top diplomat stressed that both sides are determined to strengthen ties between the two countries particularly as they share common history and deep relations.
He added that they have agreed to activate the Joint Political Consultation Committee headed by the foreign ministers of both nations, underscoring that he would soon meet with Akoul to continue consultations on bilateral issues.
Meanwhile, Sudan’s Defence Minister Awad Ibn Auf has discusses with his South Sudanese counterpart Kuol Manyang Juuk bilateral relations and ways to promote joint cooperation.
In a meeting that included the Chiefs of Staff and Directors of Intelligence in both countries, the two sides have agreed to the importance of ensuring the success of the JSPC meeting.
The meeting also stressed the need to make a breakthrough in the outstanding issues in order to allow the concerned bodies implement the cooperation agreement signed between the two countries.
The two sides agreed to build on the outcome of the previous meetings in order to accelerate the execution of the cooperation agreements to achieve the interests of the two brotherly peoples and push forward bilateral relations.
South Sudan broke out from Sudan in July 2011 after a referendum on self-determination held in January 2011.
(ST)