Sudan Says Implementation of Oil Agreement Conditional to Security Agreement

Khartoum – The Sudanese Government has said the oil agreement concluded with South Sudan in Addis Ababa would be signed during the coming days.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Ambassador Al Obeid Muraweh, elaborated that the implementation of the oil deal is contingent upon resolution of the security dossier, a priority issue for the Sudanese Government.

Muraweh expects the forthcoming round of talks to begin between 26 to 28 August, adding that the UN Security Council at its meeting of 9th August is likely to bless the agreement and accordingly extend the deadline of talks to 22 September.

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary group of the Blue Nile and South Kordofan MPs held a lengthy meeting with Dr. Kamal Obeid, Sudan's lead negotiator, in presence of Ahmed Karmeno the chairman of the federal joint mechanism.

Obeid briefed the meeting on the issues discussed at the talks in Addis Ababa. The mechanism made some observations with regards to the tracks of talks particularly the humanitarian track, stressing the necessity of delivery of humanitarian assistance to the affected people.

The meeting underscored the importance of continuation of talks and the need for focus on security issues. The meeting also stressed the necessity of extending an invitation to AUHIP Chair Thabo Mbeki to visit the two areas to listen to the views of the residents.

In the same vein, Chairman of the NCP Parliamentary Bloc Dr. Ghazi Salahueldine said the bloc has not yet taken any decision on the oil agreement with South Sudan concluded in Addis Ababa on the assumption that a decision would be taken on the deal when the issue is referred to the House.

Dr. Ghazi, however, denied media reports to the effect that the NCP Parliamentary Group at stormy meeting rejected the oil agreement with South Sudan.

"The NCP bloc has not met to discuss the issue" he said, adding "the meeting held two days ago was for the heads of the State Parliamentary groups and committee leaders not a meeting of the NCP Parliamentary bloc".