The United Nations said Wednesday governments in Northern and Southern Sudan have agreed on some steps to begin the process of separation following the announcement of the souths independence vote earlier this week.
Southern Sudan will complete the secession process on July 9, the termination date for the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in 2005 to end a civil war that lasted decades and killed tens of thousands of people. The independence vote was the last step in implementing the agreement.
Haile Menkerios, the UN special envoy for Sudan, told the UN Security Council in New York that the sides have so far agreed on issues including oil revenue sharing, bilateral economic relations, citizenship arrangements, open borders and non-interference in each others affairs. Other steps under discussion include security, non- aggression and military cooperation.
Sudan has just given us an example of how the spirit of peace can overcome decades of war, Menkerios said.
He said Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has signed a decree recognizing the independence vote by the southerners. The referendum in January showed that 97.58 per cent of the 4 million registered voters in the south voted for independence. |
