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UN Security Council applauds Sudan-S. Sudan deal

29 September 2012 03:46 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The UN Security Council on Friday applauded the long-awaited agreement reached Thursday between Sudan and South Sudan, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

The Security Council members congratulated the leaders and negotiators for reaching an agreement, saying it represents "a major breakthrough for the establishment of peace, stability and prosperity in both Sudan and South Sudan," said the 15-nation UN body in a statement to the press here.

Sudan and South Sudan on Thursday signed three agreements on various issues at the end of a presidential summit between Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Bashir and his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir Mayardit in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.

The deals covered the resumption of oil exports by the South Sudan through Sudan and the establishment of a demilitarized border buffer zone. However, the two countries have not worked out issues concerning the contested oil-rich Abyei region or the demarcation of their shared border.

The council underlined "the critical importance of immediate and full implementation of the agreements," in light of their extensive history of conflict and failed agreements.

The council urged the rapid resolution on the bilateral outstanding issues, and will look forward to Thabi Mbeki, the top mediator from the African Union, to make recommendations.

Additionally, the council expressed "grave concern about the rapidly worsening humanitarian situation" in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States of Sudan.

The government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) should "expedite the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to the affected civilian populations as rapidly as possible," said the council.

They called for the parties to "engage in direct talks to urgently agree to and implement a cessation of hostilities and create a conducive environment for further progress on political and security issues."