peaceful coexistence Sudan, South Sudan agree to hold conference on issues of peaceful coexistence

Vice-President of the Sovereignty Council Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and his accompanying delegation, held in Juba today, a session of joint talks with the Vice-President of the Republic of South Sudan, Hussein Abdel-Baqi Akol, in the presence of Presidential Adviser for Security Affairs Tut Gatluak and the governors of Unity and Warrap States and besides leaders of the security organs in southern Sudan.

The session was attended from the Sudanese side by acting Minister of Defense Lt. Gen. Yassin Ibrahim Yassin, the Sudanese Ambassador to Juba, Jamal Malik, and the Head of the Military Intelligence, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Mohamed Ali Sebair.

During the session, the two sides discussed the course of the solid relations between Sudan and South Sudan and ways to enhance them to serve the interests of the two brotherly countries and the importance of joint work and coordination at all levels.

They also reviewed issues of common concern and the incidents in some border states.

The two sides agreed to hold a conference at the level of the border

states to discuss issues of peaceful coexistence and development, and to activate popular diplomacy to achieve security and stability and facilitate the movement of citizens, commercial goods and herds of livestock.

They pointed to importance of returning to the previous peaceful coexistence agreement between the Misseriya and the Malwal Dinka concluded in 1990 to consolidate the foundations of peaceful coexistence between them and all tribes in the area.

They directed to expedite the opening of border crossings, and work to open roads linking the border areas to ensure the flow of movement of citizens and goods in order to achieve the common interests of the two brotherly countries.

The two sides stressed the need for the civil administrations, the competent authorities and officials in the border states to control the unruly acts and combat negative practices along the border areas in a way that guarantees the freedom of movement of persons and herds of livestock without security problems.

The two sides underscored in a joint statement following the talks formation of joint committees between the states of West Kordofan and South Kordofan from the Sudanese side, and the states of Unity and Northern Bahr al-Ghazal from the Southern Sudanese side, provided that these joint committees engage in intensive meetings and make a field visit within a week of its date to discuss problems in those areas and develop the necessary solutions.