Brussels, 24/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 23 July in Brussels, EU foreign affairs ministers reiterated the importance of Sudan and Southern Sudan fully and unconditionally implementing the African Union (UA) roadmap, as well as the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2046 (2012), before the deadline of 2 August. Post-secession questions still pending continue to poison relations between the two neighbours.
At the end of the ministerial session, Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, declared, “the EU is deeply concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile” and particularly wants to see, “immediate unhindered humanitarian access” restored. The conclusions adopted by the Council reiterate this message. The EU press in Khartoum calls for international humanitarian organisations to be given immediate access to civilians in need of assistance and calls on the government of Sudan and the SPLM/North to return to the negotiating table in an effort to reach a political solution.
The Council underlines that the roadmap has already helped make progress, such as the significant reduction in hostilities at the border between Sudan and Southern Sudan and the withdrawal of Sudanese and South Sudanese forces from Abyei. Full respect for the roadmap will benefit both countries and enable the EU to look at ways of increasing its development aid to the two viable states, explained the EU, which is calling on Khartoum and Juba to demonstrate the leadership needed in this situation. (AN/trans/fl)