Agreement Eludes Sudan, South Sudan Presidents
ADDIS ABABA — The presidents of Sudan and South Sudan failed to reach an agreement on the second day of a summit between their two countries. The negotiations between Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan's Salva Kiir, focusing on oil and border disputes, face many difficulties.
Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman el-Obeidi Mbraariah says the presidents will continue the summit Tuesday morning.
"Only two issues remain, 14 miles [22 kilometers] and Abyei, and they will continue discussing the issues tomorrow [Tuesday]," he said.
Both countries have claimed the oil-rich Abyei region. And the two sides are discussing establishing a demilitarized zone on the border - the so-called 14-mile area that the Africa Union proposes as a soft border where people from both Sudan and South Sudan can move and traded freely.
The two presidents have had three negotiations sessions so far, led by African Union mediator Thabo Mbeki.
Spokesman for the South Sudanese delegation Atif Keir says only the subject of Abyei was discussed in the final session.
"In the last session of the meeting they started on the proposal that has been submitted by the AU on Abyei," he said. "Khartoum side they say that they are going to come up with their position in written form so the meeting has adjourned, and we are going to start it tomorrow morning to discuss the Abyei issue and sort it out."
Delegations of the two countries started the last round of negotiations in early September. Negotiating teams of the neighboring countries reached consensus on most matters relating to oil, economics, trade and citizenship status. But the presidents still have to finalize those issues and also reach agreements on the Abyei region, the demilitarized zone and security matters.
South Sudan became independent last year after a 2005 peace agreement, ending decades of civil war. The U.N. Security Council has threatened sanctions if the two countries fail to reach a comprehensive agreement. fuente. La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/no-agreement-yet-at-sudan-south-sudan-summit/1514334.html
Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman el-Obeidi Mbraariah says the presidents will continue the summit Tuesday morning.
"Only two issues remain, 14 miles [22 kilometers] and Abyei, and they will continue discussing the issues tomorrow [Tuesday]," he said.
Both countries have claimed the oil-rich Abyei region. And the two sides are discussing establishing a demilitarized zone on the border - the so-called 14-mile area that the Africa Union proposes as a soft border where people from both Sudan and South Sudan can move and traded freely.
The two presidents have had three negotiations sessions so far, led by African Union mediator Thabo Mbeki.
Spokesman for the South Sudanese delegation Atif Keir says only the subject of Abyei was discussed in the final session.
"In the last session of the meeting they started on the proposal that has been submitted by the AU on Abyei," he said. "Khartoum side they say that they are going to come up with their position in written form so the meeting has adjourned, and we are going to start it tomorrow morning to discuss the Abyei issue and sort it out."
Delegations of the two countries started the last round of negotiations in early September. Negotiating teams of the neighboring countries reached consensus on most matters relating to oil, economics, trade and citizenship status. But the presidents still have to finalize those issues and also reach agreements on the Abyei region, the demilitarized zone and security matters.
South Sudan became independent last year after a 2005 peace agreement, ending decades of civil war. The U.N. Security Council has threatened sanctions if the two countries fail to reach a comprehensive agreement. fuente. La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/no-agreement-yet-at-sudan-south-sudan-summit/1514334.html
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