PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Abyei: Ban commends South Sudan for withdrawing police
New York, US (PANA) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed South Sudan's decision to withdraw its police force from the disputed area of Abyei.
In a statement made available to PANA in New York, on Sunday, Ban strongly urged neighbouring Sudan to pull out its police from the area as well, in accordance with the agreement which both parties signed in June last year.
He also urged the two countries' governments to immediately establish the Abyei Area Administration, which is necessary to normalize the situation there.
''The Secretary-General urges the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to resume negotiations under the auspices of the African Union High-Level Panel to resolve the outstanding issues between them,'' the statement said, adding that both nations should also activate the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism to ensure security along their border.
The Security Council established the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in June last year, following an outbreak of violence after Sudanese troops took control of the area, displacing tens of thousands of people weeks before South Sudan became independent in July 2011 after seceding from Sudan.
A referendum that would have determined the status of Abyei in January last year failed to take place amid disagreements on voter eligibility.
Efforts to establish temporary administrative arrangements for Abyei also foundered because both sides were reluctant to withdraw their forces from the area.
-0- PANA AA/SEG 13May2012
In a statement made available to PANA in New York, on Sunday, Ban strongly urged neighbouring Sudan to pull out its police from the area as well, in accordance with the agreement which both parties signed in June last year.
He also urged the two countries' governments to immediately establish the Abyei Area Administration, which is necessary to normalize the situation there.
''The Secretary-General urges the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to resume negotiations under the auspices of the African Union High-Level Panel to resolve the outstanding issues between them,'' the statement said, adding that both nations should also activate the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism to ensure security along their border.
The Security Council established the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) in June last year, following an outbreak of violence after Sudanese troops took control of the area, displacing tens of thousands of people weeks before South Sudan became independent in July 2011 after seceding from Sudan.
A referendum that would have determined the status of Abyei in January last year failed to take place amid disagreements on voter eligibility.
Efforts to establish temporary administrative arrangements for Abyei also foundered because both sides were reluctant to withdraw their forces from the area.
-0- PANA AA/SEG 13May2012
