Sudan accords hailed as major step forward

S SUDAN: World leaders on Thursday welcomed the security and oil deals between Sudan and South Sudan that eased tensions between the countries that came close to war in April.

Expressing a combination of relief and praise, Britain, the United States and the European Union all lined up to laud the deal.

“This agreement breaks new ground in support of the international vision of two viable states at peace with each other,” US President Barack Obama said, calling for continued dialogue as the deal is implemented.

Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague said it was a “significant stride” to help establish peace between the neighbours.

The European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton congratulated both sides in a statement Thursday. “This represents a historic step for both countries,” she said.

Earlier, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir said the agreement “brings to an end the long conflict between our two countries”.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said he would “seize the historic opportunity and journey towards building peace.” The leaders signed a cooperation agreement after marathon talks in the Ethiopian capital that began on Sunday, a day after the rivals had missed a UN Security Council deadline to reach an accord.

However, the former civil war foes -- who came close to renewed all-out war earlier this year -- failed to strike a deal on the flashpoint region of Abyei as well as other contested border areas.

The breakthrough was reached late Wednesday, including agreements that built on an oil deal last month, to ensure the resumption of oil exports after a stoppage that crippled the economies of both nations.

AFP