Sudan Remains Committed to Unconditional and Coordinated Implementation of September 27th Agreements

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The statement released by the State Department on January 22, 2013 accusing Sudan of violating the fundamental principles of the September 27th agreements is unsubstantiated and contains false accusations.

Negotiations were urgently resumed in order to calm hostilities and address matters of security, which necessitated the creation of a demilitarized buffer zone along the border of Sudan and South Sudan. An agreement was reached to activate the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism for the SDBZ and the Military Monitoring Team including the Headquarters of the monitoring teams and the protecting forces. Unfortunately, again the delegation of GoRSS obstructed the implementation of what was agreed upon. GoRSS backtracked from the agreement concerning the 14 mile area by insisting on only partial withdrawal of its forces. The agreement was obstructed despite the extensive and appreciated efforts exerted by the facilitators (AUHIP), the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and Chair of the IGAD H.E. Haile Mariam Desalegn in an attempt to commit to the Outcomes of the Presidents' Summit.

On the Legislative Council of Abyei, the delegation of GoRSS insisted on having the majority of the Council in the ratio of (12-8) despite the fact that Abyei legally is under the sovereignty of Sudan until the final status of the area is determined. On the matter of the Abyei Police Service, GoRSS failed to bring the needed police officers while Sudan did. To make matters worse, the delegation of GoRSS insist on submitting new claims of border areas before the completion of the demarcation of the agreed section, a matter that will probably render the agreed demarcation of the borders unattainable. GoRSS also insisted on the withdrawal of Sudapet arbitration suit with regards to the unilateral confiscation by a Presidential decree of Sudapet participating interests and financial assets in the South. A matter which contravenes the Summit Outcomes on non-conditionality. While the case is entertained by the tribunal of the World Bank (WB), GoS is ready and willing to continue discussions with GoRSS to reach an amicable solution of the matter.

Considering all these details, it is appalling and outrageous to blame Sudan for putting the security of its citizen first and to call on it to restart the oil production before guaranteeing its security. Sudan remains committed to the full implementation of the agreements signed with GoRSS in a coordinated manner as stipulated in the Outcomes Report of the Heads of State Summit meeting of January 5^th, 2013, quote "unconditional and coordinated implementation of all these agreements," end of quote.

Embassy of Sudan Press and Information Office, phone: +1-202-338-8565, or fax: +1-202-667-2406

SOURCE Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan