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AU presents proposals for overcoming oil differences between Khartoum, Juba

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-6-14 9:46:13

Sudan on Thursday disclosed that the African Union (AU) has presented proposals for overcoming the oil differences and tensions between Sudan and South Sudan.

AU mediator Thabo Mbeki has presented proposals for the Sudanese government to overcome the oil crisis and tackle tensions with South Sudan, Sudanese Media Center (SMC) reported.

"The proposals presented ... are still under consideration," the SMC quoted Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, Sudanese foreign ministry spokesman, as saying.

He said Sudan would respond to these proposals after studying them, adding that Sudan's decision to halt South Sudan's oil exportation came after the government exhausted all means to push Juba to commit to the agreements signed earlier by the two countries.

Al-Siddiq expects the international community and regional mechanisms to exert further efforts to urge South Sudan to fulfill the agreements and show seriousness and political will, adding that Sudan does not have a problem with opening the passages with South Sudan if it is committed to the agreements.

On Saturday, Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir announced the stoppage of South Sudan's oil exportation through Sudan's territories starting from Sunday.

On Wednesday, Sudanese Petroleum Ministry notified oil companies to stop exporting South Sudan's oil through the Sudanese territories, according to Khartoum's Alyaoum Altali daily.

"The oil companies ... have received official letters from the Petroleum Ministry to stop the oil exportation operations within 60 days," the report said.

Khartoum and Juba had recently agreed to resume South Sudan's oil exportation through Sudan's territories as part of a cooperation agreement signed in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa last year.
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