GoS: AUHIP extension does not mean issues will be referred to UNSC Sudanvisiondaily.com Khartoum, 29/1/2013 – The Sudanese government has denied that the extension of the mandate of the AUHIP for six months is intended to refer outstanding issues between Sudan and South Sudan to the Security Council. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered the extension a major success for the African leaders to keep issues in the hands of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC). "The African leaders are up to the challenge," foreign ministry undersecretary Rahamtullah Mohamed Osman said. "The extension does not mean the issues will be referred to the Security Council," said Idriss Mohamed Abdel Gadir, Sudan’s chief negotiator, upon return from Addis Ababa. On Abyei, he said the AU allowed Khartoum and Juba three months to resolve the dispute over the territory, stating that the AU mediation will present a final report regarding security issues, especially the buffer zone and Abyei, which is now in the hands of Presidents Al Bashir and Kiir. He said the final status of Abyei depends on the protocol and the referendum, but indicated the difficulty of conducting the referendum after the separation of South Sudan. "We are ready to consider other options apart from a referendum if the South so desires," he said. He reiterated Sudan's commitment to the security arrangement provisions, particularly the buffer zone. On a lack of confidence between the two parties, Abdel Gadir said, "Confidence building is a continued process." Confidence is built in accordance with security, economic and commercial interests as well as free movements of civilians between the two countries, he added. Rahamtullah Osman, the foreign ministry undersecretary reiterated Sudan's firm stance on negotiation with the SPLM-N. Negotiation or non-negotiation with the Northern Sector will be decided by the lofty interests of the country, he said. He denied statements attributed to him to the effect that the government's final position is not to negotiate with the Northern Sector. The UN called on the government and the northern sector to start negotiation on 15 February without preconditions.
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