Sudan-South Sudan oil deal welcomed by UN chief
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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
An agreement by Sudan and South Sudan to resolve their oil dispute has been welcomed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Over the weekend, the two countries announced that they have concluded a deal for South Sudan to export its oil using Sudan's oil pipes and on the distribution of oil revenues.
The UN Secretary-General says the agreement is an important milestone for building good neighbourly relations between the two states.
Martin Nesirky is the spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
"The Secretary-General is encouraged that the two Governments have significantly narrowed their positions on contentious issues. He regrets, however, that they have not met the 2 August deadline set by the United Nations Security Council in endorsing the African Peace and Security Council Road Map. He urges the Sudanese and South Sudanese leaders to muster the necessary political will to resolve all outstanding issues."
Mr. Ban also commended the Sudanese government and armed rebels for signing, separately, an agreement on humanitarian assistance to war-affected civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile States.
The Secretary-General applauded the efforts of the African Union, led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki and his Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Haile Menkerios.
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