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U.S., Britain, Norway urge Sudan parties to intensify negotiations

11 May 2011 00:36 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The United States, Britain and Norway on Tuesday called for parties in Sudan to intensify their negotiations to finalize arrangements as south Sudan is bracing itself for independence in July, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"As we enter the final two months of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement’s interim period, we call on the CPA parties to intensify their negotiations to finalize arrangements that will provide the basis for two stable, secure and viable states living in peace with one another and their neighbors," the three countries, known as the Sudan Troika, said in a statement.

Acknowledging the progress made with the facilitation of the Africa Union High-Level Implementation Panel, the statement said that much work remains to be done, calling on the parties to approach the next two months with a "renewed sense of urgency" to resolve key outstanding issues, especially the future status of Abyei, before the end of the CPA.

The troika expressed particular concern about the "alarming" situation in the oil-rich Abyei region, where a recent introduction by both sides of armed forces has caused violence including 11 deaths.

"At this critical stage we call on the leaders of the north and the south to refrain from inflammatory language and other acts that provoke the other side," the group said. "We urge both sides to avoid further escalation that could endanger the peaceful atmosphere of the CPA and ultimately make resolution of the Abyei issue more difficult."

Under the CPA, a referendum was held in south Sudan in January, in which the voters overwhelmingly chose to secede from the north, but an array of thorny issues remain to be resolved between the two sides before the south is expected to formally declare independence in July, including the status of Abyei, border demarcation, oil revenue division, external debts and citizenship.

A similar referendum had been scheduled for Abyei in January, but was canceled due to disagreement over the registration of voters.

The troika welcomed the peaceful completion of polling for South Kordofan’s elections, but expressed concern about rising tensions in the state due to a delay in the announcement of preliminary results.

It called on local and national leaders to take "immediate steps" to improve the security situation and exercise control over all armed security elements.

"We also call on the parties to work together to maintain calm as the preliminary results are announced and to refrain from prematurely declaring electoral victories," the troika said in its statement. "The parties should work together to resolve any election disputes peacefully through the courts."

The polls have great importance as the oil-rich South Kordofan State was a war scene in Sudan’s two-decades civil war. In addition, the state serves as a commercial gateway and social bond between the north and south Sudan.