S. Sudan’s Machar and Sudan’s Taha hold telephone discussion on current tensions
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June 11, 2013 (KHARTOUM/JUBA) – South Sudanese vice-president, Riek
Machar and his Sudanese counterpart, Ali Osman Taha agreed, in a
telephone conversation, to work together to resolve the current
tension between the two countries and renewed their commitment to all
the signed agreements.
JPEG - 30 kb
FILE - Southern Sudan vice president Riek Machar (L) listens to
Sudan’s First Vice President Ali Osman Taha during a meeting in
Khartoum on July 10, 2010 (AFP PHOTO/ASHRAF SHAZLY Getty Images)
Sources from Khartoum and Juba confirmed to Sudan Tribune that the two
officials, in a telephone conversation, discussed Saturday’s
announcement by Sudan’s president, Omer Al-Bashir to stop the flow of
South Sudan oil to the international market through the Red Sea.
"The telephone call averted the abrupt oil shut down" said a high
ranking official in Juba, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The
official was referring to the announcement that president Al-Bashir
directed his oil minister, Awad al-Jaz, to shut down the oil
pipelines.
South Sudanese official pointed out that Machar, had to call his
Sudanese counterpart reminding him of the provision in the cooperation
agreements, which demands 60 days’ notice to the other party in case
of a decision to suspend any of the issues agreed upon.
The two vice-presidents "agreed to the 60 days within which the
process of gradual pipeline closure would take place should there be
no positive engagements by the two parties", the official further
stressed.
The two leaders also discussed the need to promote dialogue in
resolving any misunderstandings between the two neighbouring countries
that share the Africa’s longest borderline of over 2,000km, after
South Sudan’s split in July 2011.
In Khartoum, which considers Machar as opposed to any support to rebel
groups, an official source confirmed the telephone call, stressing
that the two vice presidents reaffirmed their respective countries’
re-commitments to the implementation of the cooperation agreements.
Both leaders, the source told Sudan Tribune, also discussed ways to
preserve the interests of the two countries.
The two countries had earlier agreed to form a high level committee to
be co-chaired by the two countries’ vice-presidents to discuss claims
and accusations over support to rebel groups among others, but have
not since met over the matter.
There are also other subordinate committees put in place by the
mechanisms, which are yet to be activated.
Sudanese government claim there are some officials in Juba who
continue to support rebel groups that are killing its army in Blue
Nile, South Kordofan and in Darfur.
However, South Sudan president, Salva Kiir has dismissed allegations
that his country supports Sudanese rebel groups.
Observers agree that the lack of trust between the two countries
continue to hamper their efforts as they are still differ over other
issues like Abyei.
"The step by step approach adopted by the mediation and international
facilitators requires a strong commitment and continued dynamic", a
western diplomat told Sudan Tribune.
In Juba, top diplomats from the Troika countries of US, UK and Norway
and EU and China have commended the recent high level phone contacts
between senior leaders in Sudan and South Sudan and urged the two
countries to activate the mechanisms for implementing the September
27, 2012 cooperation agreements.
On Tuesday, ambassadors Susan Page of US, Ian Hughes of UK and Hanne
Marrie of Norway, had a lengthy joint meeting with the South Sudan
vice president on the current dramatic developments between the two
countries following Sudan’s threats of oil shut down.
The Troika diplomats expressed the urgent need to activate high level
face-to-face meetings under the mechanisms put in place in the
cooperation agreements in order to avoid suspicions and serious
unilateral decisions.
The diplomats warned of severe consequences on both countries, should
they opt to shut down the main resource that drives the economies of
both nations.
In a press statement after the meeting, ambassador Page urged the two
parties to promote a high level dialogue and avoid sliding into
serious problems.
Meanwhile, the delegation of the European Union led by its special
envoy to two Sudans, Dame Rosallind, also held a separate meeting with
Machar on Tuesday. The top EU diplomat, also expressed the urgent need
to activate the mechanisms for implementing the agreement between
Sudan and South Sudan.
The outgoing Chinese ambassador in Juba, Li Zhi Guo, equally expressed
concerns about the need to resume high level dialogue between Juba and
Khartoum at another meeting with South Sudan vice-president Tuesday.
Machar, however, assured the diplomats that his country was ready for
dialogue as well as to activate such mechanisms for implementing the
cooperation agreements.
(ST)
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