South Sudan vows to promote strong ties with Sudan
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Elisabeth Janaina
May 31, 2013, 9:20:59 AM5/31/13
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South Sudan vows to promote strong ties with Sudan
May 30, 2013 (JUBA) - South Sudan is determined to fully promote
strong bilateral ties with the government and people of neighbouring
Sudan, through implementation of the Cooperation Agreement which the
two heads of state signed in September 2012, its information and
broadcasting minister said on Thursday.
JPEG - 51 kb
South Sudan’s information minister Barnaba Marial September 13, 2011 (ST)
Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said South Sudan and Sudan share a
lot in common, echoing the comments of Sudanese president, Omer
Al-Bashir, on his visit to Juba in April.
Bashir recently threatened to prevent Southern oil passing through
northern pipelines just weeks after production had resumed after a
stoppage which lasted over a year. But South Sudan’s ambassador in
Khartoum has downplayed the comments claiming that the president has a
habit of making "emotional" outbursts.
South Sudanese crude is due to arrive in the coastal city of Port
Sudan in mid-June after what was described as a technical glitch was
resolved last week.
Juba had accused Khartoum of ordering oil companies to interfere with
production in South Sudanese oil fields. But, Khartoum said the water
contained in the crude, had to be reduced, dismissing any
interference.
Since South Sudan’s independence almost two years ago relations have
remained tense over a number of issues including oil, border
demarcation and disputed areas.
Marial said Thursday that there were no reasons why the people of
South Sudan and the Sudan cannot interact and live together as
neighbours.
"We will always meet ourselves because the two countries are without
doubt one people, brothers and sisters, sharing the same cultural
norms and values and located within the same geographical area."
Sudan and South Sudan were "bound to co-exist in the spirit of
brotherhood at all times. This is precisely the reason President Salva
Kiir Mayardit has always been manifesting commitment towards ensuring
that South Sudan and Sudan become one people who will together to lay
the foundation stone for two viable and independent states in the
region", Marial said.
Minister Marial told reporters at the premises of the information
ministry in Juba that relations between the two countries are expected
to improve despite ongoing differences over post secession issues.
"I am confident that our relations with the republic of Sudan will
pick up and grow because the citizens in both countries want to live
in peace with each other and there are things that they need from each
other. This is why the government is not relenting in efforts to
consolidating the connection because the two countries are actually
cognisant of the fact that healthy relations between and among people
at community, national and international levels are fundamental in
development", Marial explained.
The minister said that the continuous exchange of visits by top
officials of both two countries - citing the recent visit to Khartoum
by South Sudanese delegations regarding humanitarian affairs,
interior, trade, commerce and industry - were an indication that their
bilateral ties were improving.
The two countries are stepping up efforts to not only promote peaceful
coexistence and good neighbourliness, but also to assist each other to
overcome socio-economic challenges; and achieve sustainable
development, he said.
"We hope that such visit would continue and this can only be done when
countries foster bonds of oneness and brotherhood. It will go a long
way in emancipating these countries from the shackles of poverty,
underdevelopment, wars and diseases."
Both nations have recently accused the other of backing rebels in the
others’ territory causing mass displacement and humanitarian issues.
"As human beings, we would find it extremely difficult to live a
meaningful life without each other’s support in one way or the other.
Such is the reality of human nature, which has undoubtedly been
mirrored and reflected in South Sudan-Sudan relations”, he said.
(ST)
May 30, 2013 (JUBA) - South Sudan is determined to fully promote
strong bilateral ties with the government and people of neighbouring
Sudan, through implementation of the Cooperation Agreement which the
two heads of state signed in September 2012, its information and
broadcasting minister said on Thursday.
JPEG - 51 kb
South Sudan’s information minister Barnaba Marial September 13, 2011 (ST)
Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said South Sudan and Sudan share a
lot in common, echoing the comments of Sudanese president, Omer
Al-Bashir, on his visit to Juba in April.
Bashir recently threatened to prevent Southern oil passing through
northern pipelines just weeks after production had resumed after a
stoppage which lasted over a year. But South Sudan’s ambassador in
Khartoum has downplayed the comments claiming that the president has a
habit of making "emotional" outbursts.
South Sudanese crude is due to arrive in the coastal city of Port
Sudan in mid-June after what was described as a technical glitch was
resolved last week.
Juba had accused Khartoum of ordering oil companies to interfere with
production in South Sudanese oil fields. But, Khartoum said the water
contained in the crude, had to be reduced, dismissing any
interference.
Since South Sudan’s independence almost two years ago relations have
remained tense over a number of issues including oil, border
demarcation and disputed areas.
Marial said Thursday that there were no reasons why the people of
South Sudan and the Sudan cannot interact and live together as
neighbours.
"We will always meet ourselves because the two countries are without
doubt one people, brothers and sisters, sharing the same cultural
norms and values and located within the same geographical area."
Sudan and South Sudan were "bound to co-exist in the spirit of
brotherhood at all times. This is precisely the reason President Salva
Kiir Mayardit has always been manifesting commitment towards ensuring
that South Sudan and Sudan become one people who will together to lay
the foundation stone for two viable and independent states in the
region", Marial said.
Minister Marial told reporters at the premises of the information
ministry in Juba that relations between the two countries are expected
to improve despite ongoing differences over post secession issues.
"I am confident that our relations with the republic of Sudan will
pick up and grow because the citizens in both countries want to live
in peace with each other and there are things that they need from each
other. This is why the government is not relenting in efforts to
consolidating the connection because the two countries are actually
cognisant of the fact that healthy relations between and among people
at community, national and international levels are fundamental in
development", Marial explained.
The minister said that the continuous exchange of visits by top
officials of both two countries - citing the recent visit to Khartoum
by South Sudanese delegations regarding humanitarian affairs,
interior, trade, commerce and industry - were an indication that their
bilateral ties were improving.
The two countries are stepping up efforts to not only promote peaceful
coexistence and good neighbourliness, but also to assist each other to
overcome socio-economic challenges; and achieve sustainable
development, he said.
"We hope that such visit would continue and this can only be done when
countries foster bonds of oneness and brotherhood. It will go a long
way in emancipating these countries from the shackles of poverty,
underdevelopment, wars and diseases."
Both nations have recently accused the other of backing rebels in the
others’ territory causing mass displacement and humanitarian issues.
"As human beings, we would find it extremely difficult to live a
meaningful life without each other’s support in one way or the other.
Such is the reality of human nature, which has undoubtedly been
mirrored and reflected in South Sudan-Sudan relations”, he said.
(ST)
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