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Sudan Tribune

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AU mediators hand conciliatory proposals in talks between Sudan, South Sudan

June 1, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The mini-committee comprising the African Union High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), Sudanese and South Sudanese negotiators on Thursday held its first meeting and received proposals on the schedule of the talks.

The mini-committee was formed as part of the ongoing negotiating process between Sudan and South Sudan in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa under the mediation of the AUHIP led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

It includes three representatives from each of Sudan and South Sudan as well as two members of the AUHIP.

According to sources present in Addis Ababa, the committee received proposals from Sudan and South Sudan’s negotiators on a schedule for the talks.

Mutrif Sidiq, a member of the Sudanese delegation, told reporters in Addis Ababa on Thursday that their proposal stressed the necessity of starting the negotiations on security issues through the joint military committee between the two countries. He added that the other issues of oil exports, citizenship and borders are predicated on resolving the security question.

On the other hand, South Sudan’s delegation member, Deng Alor, said that the ongoing meetings would be focused on determining the priorities of the talks.

Sudan Tribune has learned that AU mediators had received the proposals and gave the two sides a conciliatory proposal for approval as a roadmap for the talks.

The negotiations resumed on Tuesday following a two-month hiatus that saw the two neighbours fight a brief war around the oil disputed region of Heglig.

The two countries have been given a three-month deadline by the AU and the UN Security Council to conclude negotiations on citizenship, oil exports, borders and the status of the Abyei region.

(ST)

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