Sudan: Stalled Sudans' Talks Dash Hopes of Possible Agreement Before 2
August
30 July 2012
South Sudan has offered its neighbor Sudan more than 3 billion dollars in
compensation for economic losses caused by the South's independence. The ...
( Resource: <
http://allafrica.com/view/resource/main/main/id/00040751.html>
Sudan Dismisses South Sudan's Compensation Proposal
Khrtoum - Hopes ,even for, a partial agreement over the outstanding issues
evaporated Sunday when the Sudan and South Sudan negotiators failed to reach
an agreement over oil fees.
The mediation and the international community were pushing the two sides to
reach an agreement over two important issues: border security and oil, as
there is a great interest for it from the both sides.
For the security issue the discussions are stalled over Sudan's demand to
withdraw "Mile 14" from the buffer zone. On the oil, Juba increased its
offer on per barrel transportation fees to $9.16 and $7.20 for the two
Sudanese pipelines, while Khartoum lowered it demand for $32 opening the
door for more concessions.
The two negotiating teams over oil issues ended their meeting Sunday in
Addis Ababa without concluding an agreement over transportation fees.
Khartoum actually say Juba should pay the fees in oil crude but Juba
refuses.
Sudan says it wants a percentage of each barrel of oil transported and
refuses the fixed amount of money saying it will take an advantage of all
future increases in oil prices but also will give it a sovereign right on
exported oil in a way to avoid any delay in payments.
Juba rejects such demand saying it is not known in international standards
and accuses Khartoum of seeking to cover its budget's deficit by the oil
fees.
Another meeting is expected to be held Monday. As, the head of Sudan's lead
negotiating team, Idris Mohamed Abdel-Gadir and its spokesperson Mutrfif
Sidiq returned to Addis Ababa after talks in Khartoum.
Sudan's foreign ministry spokesperson, El-Obeid Morawah, reaffirmed in
Khartoum that the all the unresolved issues are discussed now in Addis Ababa
in order to reach a comprehensive deal with the South Sudan, stressing that
no agreement can be enforced before the security issue.
He further excluded international sanction as provided in the UN Security
Council resolution 2046, if a comprehensive deal is not reached by the 2
August.
However, the international community was keen to keep the pressure on the
two parties and did not exclude sanctions if no deal is sealed before the
deadline fixed in the UN resolution .
UN officials stated that the parties should agree on the security matter if
they want to get an extension of the three months delay.
The French foreign ministry also since Friday warned that the Security
Council reserves the right to impose sanctions on both sides, "if no
significant progress was observed by 2 August."
US ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice called in a statement
released on Saturday on the two parties to fulfil their obligations under
the resolution 2046 before the end of the time limit.
"The US wishes to reiterate the UN Security Council's decision -- in the
event that any or all of the parties have not complied with the decisions
set forth in this resolution to take appropriate additional measures under
Article 41 of the (UN) Charter as necessary," she further underscored in a
statement published by the AFP.
Rice who condemned the recent aerial bombardment carried out by the Sudanese
army in Bhar el-Ghazal region , in South Sudan stressed also on the need to
stop providing support to rebel groups.
"At the same time, the United States reiterates the Security Council's call
to cease support to rebel groups" she said.
Chief mediator Thabo Mbeki is expected to brief the UN Security Council on 9
August which should issue a decision on the talks in Addis Ababa.
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Received on Mon Jul 30 2012 - 18:10:45 EDT
