The Republic of Sudan Is the First to Recognize Southern Sudan as a Country

WASHINGTON, July 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Republic of Sudan today officially recognizes South Sudan as the newest country, a day before the latter's formal inauguration into statehood. The ministry of presidential affairs declared it based on the Government's recognition of the people's inalienable right to self-determination, the outcome of the historic January 9th 2011 referendum, in observance of the January 1st 1956 boundaries as specified at the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and in accordance with international norms. The Government further reiterates its keenness and commitment to resolving all outstanding issues related to the CPA and to the final settlement of the relevant and pending items. In this regard, the ministry further requests of South Sudan to abide by all the bilateral agreements and treaties that are in force today, not only between the two countries but also regionally and internationally in order to ease this process.

The president in an address yesterday also assured the Sudanese of his July 9th visit to Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan, where he will congratulate and wish the people all the success while reaffirming the commitment and readiness to support them in the monumental task of nation building. He reemphasized that a stable and secure Republic of South Sudan is in the interest of the Republic of North Sudan as security is inevitably a collective responsibility for the two regions that share the longest border than with any other countries bordering them. And in fact should there be security problems in the South, the North is where the people will take refuge as has been historically the case. Fostering good relations therefore and cultivating fruitful cooperation in all areas including the economic and social spheres must be a priority for both countries.

This is an enormous achievement towards peace and of which the Sudanese must be proud. In the final note, it's worth recalling that the North-South war precedes Sudan's 1956 independence from colonial Britain. Yet it is this government that in the end possessed the political will to embark on a two decades-long peace process with the SPLM, embracing the right to self-determination as a viable recourse to attaining a lasting peace. This was a grand gesture that bespeaks the commitment of Sudanese to peace even when it's as costly as Separation.

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