Sudan, South Sudan to meet for crisis talks - New Straits Times

International pressure has pushed both sides to return to the long-running  talks stalled by the fighting last month, when Southern troops seized an oil  field from Khartoum’s troops for ten days as Sudan launched repeated air  strikes.

Tensions remain high, but Southern President Salva Kiir stressed ahead of  the talks that “amicable dialogue on the outstanding issues with Khartoum is  the only option for peace,” according the South Sudan government website.

Khartoum’s foreign ministry has said it will attend the May 29 talks and  discuss a UN Security Council resolution that they resume dialogue on 

“critical” issues unresolved after the South gained independence last year.

However, Khartoum on Sunday said it had complained to the UN Security  Council over alleged “aggression” by the South, including alleged cross-border  incursions, which it said broke a UN order to halt hostilities.

Juba has accused Khartoum of continued air strikes on its territory.

AU mediator and former South African president Thabo Mbeki has been  shuttling between the two capitals in bid to ensure both sides attend the  talks, which have already slipped from a UN Security Council May 16 deadline to  start.

“The AU is doing its utmost at all levels to make the resumptions of these  negations a success, because there is no other way than peace - war cannot  solve the problem,” AU spokesman Noureddine Mezni told AFP.

Juba has said it is ready to comply with all articles in the UN resolution,  while Khartoum committed itself to end hostilities but expressed reservations  about some UN demands, which threatens sanctions for non-compliance.

It was not clear when exactly on Tuesday the talks are expected to start,  or for how long the talks are due to last.

Mediators say the talks will focus on security issues, including ensuring  both sides renew their commitment to earlier agreements to establish a  demilitarised buffer zone scuttled by the weeks of fighting.

Troops remain dug in at positions along the contested frontier, and both  sides accuse the other backing rebel forces to destablise the other.

Mediators say that outstanding issues — including a bitter dispute over  issues that include oil transit fees and contested border zones — are expected  to be negotiated at later meetings.

“The coming days are crucial...this will pave the way for a successful  negotiation, this will give us confidence,” Mezni said.

South Sudan broke away from Sudan in July after a 2005 peace deal ended one  of Africa’s longest civil wars, which killed about two million people.

But tensions soon flared again over a series of unresolved issues,  including the border, the future of disputed territories and oil.

The South separated with about 75 percent of the former united Sudan’s oil  production, but Juba still depends on the north’s pipeline and Red Sea port to  export its crude.

A protracted dispute over fees for use of that infrastructure led South  Sudan in January to shut its oil production after accusing the north of theft.

The Security Council gave both sides three months to conclude the talks. -- AFP

International pressure has pushed both sides to return to the long-running  talks stalled by the fighting last month, when Southern troops seized an oil  field from Khartoum’s troops for ten days as Sudan launched repeated air  strikes.

Tensions remain high, but Southern President Salva Kiir stressed ahead of  the talks that “amicable dialogue on the outstanding issues with Khartoum is  the only option for peace,” according the South Sudan government website.

Khartoum’s foreign ministry has said it will attend the May 29 talks and  discuss a UN Security Council resolution that they resume dialogue on 

“critical” issues unresolved after the South gained independence last year.

However, Khartoum on Sunday said it had complained to the UN Security  Council over alleged “aggression” by the South, including alleged cross-border  incursions, which it said broke a UN order to halt hostilities.

Juba has accused Khartoum of continued air strikes on its territory.

AU mediator and former South African president Thabo Mbeki has been  shuttling between the two capitals in bid to ensure both sides attend the  talks, which have already slipped from a UN Security Council May 16 deadline to  start.

“The AU is doing its utmost at all levels to make the resumptions of these  negations a success, because there is no other way than peace - war cannot  solve the problem,” AU spokesman Noureddine Mezni told AFP.

Juba has said it is ready to comply with all articles in the UN resolution,  while Khartoum committed itself to end hostilities but expressed reservations  about some UN demands, which threatens sanctions for non-compliance.

It was not clear when exactly on Tuesday the talks are expected to start,  or for how long the talks are due to last.

Mediators say the talks will focus on security issues, including ensuring  both sides renew their commitment to earlier agreements to establish a  demilitarised buffer zone scuttled by the weeks of fighting.

Troops remain dug in at positions along the contested frontier, and both  sides accuse the other backing rebel forces to destablise the other.

Mediators say that outstanding issues — including a bitter dispute over  issues that include oil transit fees and contested border zones — are expected  to be negotiated at later meetings.

“The coming days are crucial...this will pave the way for a successful  negotiation, this will give us confidence,” Mezni said.

South Sudan broke away from Sudan in July after a 2005 peace deal ended one  of Africa’s longest civil wars, which killed about two million people.

But tensions soon flared again over a series of unresolved issues,  including the border, the future of disputed territories and oil.

The South separated with about 75 percent of the former united Sudan’s oil  production, but Juba still depends on the north’s pipeline and Red Sea port to  export its crude.

A protracted dispute over fees for use of that infrastructure led South  Sudan in January to shut its oil production after accusing the north of theft.

The Security Council gave both sides three months to conclude the talks. -- AFP