Sources from Khartoum and Juba confirmed to Sudan Tribune that the two officials, in a telephone conversation, discussed Saturday’s announcement by Sudan’s president, Omer Al-Bashir to stop the flow of South Sudan oil to the international market through the Red Sea. "The telephone call averted the abrupt oil shut down" said a high ranking official in Juba, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The official was referring to the announcement that president Al-Bashir directed his oil minister, Awad al-Jaz, to shut down the oil pipelines. South Sudanese official pointed out that Machar, had to call his Sudanese counterpart reminding him of the provision in the cooperation agreements, which demands 60 days’ notice to the other party in case of a decision to suspend any of the issues agreed upon. The two vice-presidents "agreed to the 60 days within which the process of gradual pipeline closure would take place should there be no positive engagements by the two parties", the official further stressed. The two leaders also discussed the need to promote dialogue in resolving any misunderstandings between the two neighbouring countries that share the Africa’s longest borderline of over 2,000km, after South Sudan’s split in July 2011. In Khartoum, which considers Machar as opposed to any support to rebel groups, an official source confirmed the telephone call, stressing that the two vice presidents reaffirmed their respective countries’ re-commitments to the implementation of the cooperation agreements. Both leaders, the source told Sudan Tribune, also discussed ways to preserve the interests of the two countries. The two countries had earlier agreed to form a high level committee to be co-chaired by the two countries’ vice-presidents to discuss claims and accusations over support to rebel groups among others, but have not since met over the matter. There are also other subordinate committees put in place by the mechanisms, which are yet to be activated.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:18:28 +0000
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