Bashir, Kiir agree to directly supervise implementation of peace agreements signed 4 years ago

02 Novembre 2017

Khartoum, Sudan, November 2 (Infosplusgabon) - President Omar Bashir of Sudan and his South Sudanese counterpart, Salva Kiir, said they are taking into their hands the question of implementing agreements they signed four years ago as well as those signed this week, on economic and security cooperation.

The official Sudan news agency, SUNA, quoted the two heads of state as saying they will directly be involved in the implementation of the agreements that would open crossing points for trade, carry out demarcation of demilitarize areas, and see to it that people and commodities move free across the joint borders, albeit adoption of military measures to secure the process.

SUNA said Bashir and Kiir consented that the two countries “paid the price” for the lack of implementation of dozens of agreements and a matrix they concluded in 2013 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the auspice of the African Union.

It said President Bashir added that the two countries paid a high price because of their differences, stressing that the best option for the two sides was cooperation and that the joint borders be areas for exchanging benefits.

"The two sides have the strong will to go ahead with progress in their relationship and the two sides are ready and keen to implement all agreements signed previously, as well as those signed this week between the two countries," President Bashir stressed.

SUNA said Sudan and South Sudan have affirmed, at the conclusion of their talks in Khartoum, their keenness to turn a new page in their bilateral relations.

President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir, on Thursday concluded his two-day state visit to the Sudan where he held meetings with President Bashir and other senior government officials on bilateral relations and means for promoting them further.

President Bashir was quoted as telling a joint press conference with his southern counterpart, Kiir, he would be visiting South Sudan to mark yet a new landmark shift in relations between Khartoum and Juba.

President Kiir affirmed, in the joint press conference, that his government was seriously going ahead with the implementation of the Road map agreed upon with President Bashir.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/YHO/GABON 2017

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