PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
AU welcomes latest Sudan-South Sudan framework agreement
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The African Union (AU) has welcomed the framework agreement signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Friday on security cooperation between Juba and Khartoum -- a move seen by observers as a timely step in quelling rising tension over oil transit fees.
“The Chairperson of the AU Commission, Jean Ping, welcomes the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Non-aggression and Cooperation between Sudan and South Sudan at the Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM) meeting held in Addis Ababa on 10 February, 2012,” according to a press statement by the AU on Saturday.
The statement pointed out that the joint peace and security meeting also agreed to a number of other decisions regarding security relations between the two countries and along their common border.
The MoU was signed by Lt.-Gen. Mohamed Atta Elmula Abass, Director General for the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services, on behalf of Khartoum, and Major-General Thomas Duoth Guet, Director General for General Intelligence Bureau in South Sudan, under the supervision of the Chairperson of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and former South African President, Thabo Mbeki.
The JPSM was established in 2011 as the first inter-governmental mechanism between the Sudan and the newly-independent Republic of South Sudan.
Meeting at a ministerial level, it addressed security concerns between the two countries in order to foster confidence and reduce the likelihood of security issues escalating into conflict. This was the second time the JPSM had met.
The statement said the MoU includes a commitment by the two states to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, a commitment to non-interference in the internal affairs of the other state and the rejection of the use of force, as well as a commitment to equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.
Ping said that the speedy and full implementation of the MoU would make a significant contribution to promoting peace and reducing the likelihood of conflict.
On their common border, the two sides agreed to the immediate activation of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mission (JBVMM), which would have the task of monitoring the Secure Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ) between the two countries and investigate any allegations of violation by the two states.
“Furthermore, they agreed that the next meeting of the JPSM will be held in Juba on 8 March, 2012.” the statement stressed.
The Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC), which is mandated to address security matters in Abyei as part of the Agreement on Temporary Arrangements for the Administration and Security of the Abyei Area, has held three meetings to date.
Together with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), AJOC has succeeded in reducing tensions in the Abyei Area, the statement said.
“The Chairperson calls on the international community to extend support to the two states to facilitate the return of displaced persons to Abyei," the statement stressed, adding “Ping has expressed appreciation to the AUHIP, its Chair, former President Mbeki, its other members, former Presidents Abdulsalami Abubakar and Pierre Buyoya, and the support team, for their tireless work in promoting peace, prosperity and mutual viability between Sudan and South Sudan, and in facilitating the negotiations of all outstanding issues in their post-secession relations.”
The statement said Ping also called on both parties to redouble their efforts in the renewed rounds of negotiations, starting on 12 February, to reach an agreement on all outstanding issues.
-0- PANA MO/VAO 11Feb2012
“The Chairperson of the AU Commission, Jean Ping, welcomes the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Non-aggression and Cooperation between Sudan and South Sudan at the Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM) meeting held in Addis Ababa on 10 February, 2012,” according to a press statement by the AU on Saturday.
The statement pointed out that the joint peace and security meeting also agreed to a number of other decisions regarding security relations between the two countries and along their common border.
The MoU was signed by Lt.-Gen. Mohamed Atta Elmula Abass, Director General for the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Services, on behalf of Khartoum, and Major-General Thomas Duoth Guet, Director General for General Intelligence Bureau in South Sudan, under the supervision of the Chairperson of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) and former South African President, Thabo Mbeki.
The JPSM was established in 2011 as the first inter-governmental mechanism between the Sudan and the newly-independent Republic of South Sudan.
Meeting at a ministerial level, it addressed security concerns between the two countries in order to foster confidence and reduce the likelihood of security issues escalating into conflict. This was the second time the JPSM had met.
The statement said the MoU includes a commitment by the two states to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, a commitment to non-interference in the internal affairs of the other state and the rejection of the use of force, as well as a commitment to equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.
Ping said that the speedy and full implementation of the MoU would make a significant contribution to promoting peace and reducing the likelihood of conflict.
On their common border, the two sides agreed to the immediate activation of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mission (JBVMM), which would have the task of monitoring the Secure Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ) between the two countries and investigate any allegations of violation by the two states.
“Furthermore, they agreed that the next meeting of the JPSM will be held in Juba on 8 March, 2012.” the statement stressed.
The Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC), which is mandated to address security matters in Abyei as part of the Agreement on Temporary Arrangements for the Administration and Security of the Abyei Area, has held three meetings to date.
Together with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), AJOC has succeeded in reducing tensions in the Abyei Area, the statement said.
“The Chairperson calls on the international community to extend support to the two states to facilitate the return of displaced persons to Abyei," the statement stressed, adding “Ping has expressed appreciation to the AUHIP, its Chair, former President Mbeki, its other members, former Presidents Abdulsalami Abubakar and Pierre Buyoya, and the support team, for their tireless work in promoting peace, prosperity and mutual viability between Sudan and South Sudan, and in facilitating the negotiations of all outstanding issues in their post-secession relations.”
The statement said Ping also called on both parties to redouble their efforts in the renewed rounds of negotiations, starting on 12 February, to reach an agreement on all outstanding issues.
-0- PANA MO/VAO 11Feb2012
