Sudan: Karti Tells Clinton Khartoum's Problem With Juba Is Security
2 August 2012
Khartoum - Sudanese foreign minister Ali Karti told his US counterpart
Hillary Clinton that the main problem with the South Sudan is the security
issue, the official SUNA reported Wednesday.
US Secretary of State, began on Wednesday an 11-day tour in the African
continent where she will discuss issues related to peace, security and
development. On Thursday she is expected in Juba for talks with the
President Salva Kiir.
State department spokesperson Patrick Ventrell on Wednesday told reporters
in Washington that Clinton during her visit to Juba will discuss the urgency
to reach an agreement with Khartoum in the ongoing process mediated by the
African Union in Addis Ababa.
During a telephone call he received from Clinton on Wednesday, Karti
reiterated Sudan commitment to peaceful coexistence with all its neighbours
stressing that the problem with the Republic of South Sudan is mainly a
security one, the agency reported.
The Sudanese minister who blamed Juba for supporting rebel movements in
Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan urged the US top diplomat to press Juba
to disengage with the SPLM-N rebels and to stop harbouring Darfur holdout
groups.
"In the absence of security there cannot be a permanent agreement between
the two countries," he pointed out.
Juba denies any support to the Sudanese rebel groups however, in the past
different American official did ask the South Sudanese president to stop
their support for rebel groups.
In Addis Ababa, talks on security issues are stalled as Khartoum continues
to refuse an African Union map to operationalise a buffer zone the parties
agreed in November 2011. Sudanese government wants the mediation to
establish the demilitarised zone based on the map according to which the
South Sudan got its independence
Clinton, according to SUNA, reaffirmed the American support to Addis Ababa
talks in order to reach a lasting settlement on the unresolved issues the
two countries are negotiating since one year ago.
She further said that during her visit to Juba she will reiterate the
American position that urging more seriousness in the discussions. At the
same time, she requested Khartoum to engage seriously in the talks.
Washington is seen the ally of Juba in Khartoum and Sudanese official say
that Juba could not continue to support rebels and take such intransigent
stance with its support.
Also due to the US sanctions on Sudan, Washington has bad relations with
Khartoum and any initiative by the American officials is suspiciously
scrutinised by the Sudanese government.
During her telephone conversation, Clinton also raised the humanitarian
access to the rebel held areas in South Kordofan and Blue Nile. She urged
Karti to allow aid groups to reach these areas.
The Sudanese minister said his government accept the tripartite initiative
and expressed some observations regarding its implementation, stressing that
the operation will be allowed once an agreement is reached over this issue.
The mediation suspended the humanitarian track on 25 July as the divergences
are much too large between the two sides.
The SPLM-N says ready for a one-month ceasefire but asks to distribute the
aid from South Sudanese borders. Khartoum sticks to its nine-point agreement
with the UN, African Union and Arab League and say only government agreed
actors can distribute the aid and stress it should be done from the Sudan.
------------[ Sent via the dehai-wn mailing list by dehai.org]--------------
Received on Thu Aug 02 2012 - 15:12:46 EDT
