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South Sudan President Promises to Help Sudan on Sanctions and Debts,

November 9, 2014

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (L) greets South Sudan's President Salva Kiir at Khartoum's airport, Sudan, on Nov. 4, 2014

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South Sudan president promises to help Sudan on sanctions and debts

KHARTOUM, Nov. 4, 2014 (Xinhua) --

South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Tuesday said his country would support Sudan's efforts to lift the U.S. sanctions imposed on it and exempt its debts.

"There is no reason why there must be sanctions on Sudan and why there will be claims for debts," Mayardit told reporters following talks with his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir in Khartoum Tuesday.

"We want these two countries to go on as twins, supporting one another in all their difficulties -- economic difficulties, security problems and all that," he added.

Sudan relays on the support of the African bloc to have its debts exempted and insists that South Sudan must bear part of the debts as the debts occurred before the separation of South Sudan in 2011.

Sudan is also exerting efforts to gain regional support for its stance calling for the lifting of the unilateral U.S. sanctions imposed on it since 1997.

Al-Bashir, for his part, reiterated his country's commitment to implement all the agreements signed with South Sudan.

"With determination and will we can implement what we have agreed on. This is the way out for our two countries," he noted, pointing out that "on our part, we reiterate our commitment and determination to fully implement the cooperation agreement signed between us."

News Analysis:

South Sudan president's visit to Khartoum sends positive signals

English.news.cn   2014-11-05 06:10:31            

KHARTOUM, Nov. 4, 2014 (Xinhua) --

The visit of South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit to Khartoum on Tuesday has sent positive signals that the two sides are pressing ahead towards settling their differences on the border and economic issues, analysts said.

Kiir's visit, however, came under exchanged accusations between Khartoum and Juba of supporting armed groups in the two countries.

The latest accusation, accoding to South Sudanese media, said Sudanese planes have bombarded sites in South Sudan's Bahral- Ghazal State, claiming that 32 civilians were killed.

"It is clear that there are attempts by some forces in South Sudan to bring the relationship between Khartoum and Juba back to square one after the recent closeness between the two countries," Dr. Mohamed Hassan Saeed, a Sudanese political analyst, told Xinhua Tuesday.

"It was a positive matter that the visit took place despite the accusations," he said, adding that "the visit has sent a clear message that the leaderships in Sudan and South Sudan are resolutely pressing ahead towards settling their differences."

The final communique, issued at the conclusion of the joint talks between president Kiir and his Sudanese counterpart Omar al- Bashir in Khartoum Tuesday, carried clear answers regarding the security issue where the two sides urged for immediate commencement on establishing the demilitarized zone along the joint border and stoppage of provision of support and shelter for the armed groups in the two countries.

According to the communique, the two sides further expressed readiness to work together to increase the oil production at Fuluj and Adar oil fields in South Sudan and assist the technicians to resume production at Unity oil field in South Sudan, which ceased production due to the clashes between South Sudan army and defectors loyal to former vice-president Riek Machar.

In this respect, Abdul-Illah Suleiman, a Sudanese economic analyst, said the oil issue constitutes a great importance for both Sudan and South Sudan.

"The two countries are facing similar economic problems, and therefore the halting of the South's oil production is also in the interest of Sudan where the oil flows through its oil utilities and helps it get hard currency," Suleiman told Xinhua.

"South Sudan, in turn, does not have any resources other than oil, not to mention that it is facing difficult conditions because of the security tension which caused its oil production to decrease. Therefore, if Sudan supported the South's efforts to resume production at unity oil field, then that will achieve common interests for the two sides," he noted.

In September 2012, Sudan and South Sudan signed a cooperation agreement in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa under the patronage of the African Union.

The agreement included a package of understandings related to security, citizens' status, border and economic issues. However, the signed agreements did not tackle the issues of Abyei and border demarcation.

The issue of the border areas constitutes one of the biggest barriers hampering the settlement of differences between Sudan and South Sudan where the two countries dispute over five border areas, including the oil-rich Abyei.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

 

 

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