Editorial :Addis Ababa Third Round of Talks

The third round of talks assumed to start this week has its significant importance, not only because of the deadline of its end imposed by the UNSC is approaching or because it might achieve the required progress to restore the relation between Sudan and South Sudan to its normality, but because it is, above all, will contribute to resolve the current economic bottlenecks.
Despite the tension between the two countries and its negative reflection in escalating the conflict in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Abyei, we still hope that this round will lead to achieve the aspired comprehensive political agreement.
The optimistic statements of the AUHIP Chief, Thabo Mbeki at the end of the previous round describing the spirits overwhelming the talks as positive besides the statements of South Sudan chief negotiator, Pagan Amum, who said that his team has optimistic plans to bring to the table, make us believe – despite the political pitfalls – that it is possible to step forward to come out from the current dilemma.
However, the starting point for making this round a success, is to reach an agreement over a reconciling map to determine the zero bordering point or the demilitarized buffer zone, without which it will be difficult to reach secession of hostilities agreement.
It is hoped that this round of talks achieves a breakthrough over this point through reaching a conciliatory agreement on the map.
We believe that reaching a conciliatory agreement will definitely lead to resolve the security crisis and pave the way for the continuation of talks over the other outstanding issues.
It is obvious that the international community is giving this round great concern represented by the efforts of the three member delegation of senior international elders, led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who arrived in Addis Ababa as part of a six-day visit to Ethiopia, South Sudan and Sudan, aimed at encouraging the AU led peace efforts for resolving the outstanding issues between Sudan and South Sudan.
Eventually, the issue depends on the two parties to the talks and the flexibility exerted in dealing with the outstanding issues to make a breakthrough.
The people of the two countries are aspiring that the two parties reach an agreement in this round to devote themselves in dealing with the internal bottlenecks in order to achieve the social peace and extending the economic justice, hence availing a healthy environment for the democratic transformation.