The Chairperson of the Commission welcomes the signing of the Agreement on Modalities for the implementation of the Security Arrangements Agreement between Sudan and South Sudan
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 11, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, welcomes the signing, in Addis Ababa on 8 March 2013, of the Implementation Modalities for Security Arrangements, at the Extraordinary Meeting of the Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM) in Addis Ababa on 8 March 2013. The extraordinary meeting of the JPSM was convened by the AU High Level Implementation Panel chaired by former President Thabo Mbeki, and including also former President General Abdulsalami Abubakar. The signing of the agreement marks the conclusion of discussion on the implementation of the Agreement on Security Arrangements signed the Presidents of South Sudan and Sudan on 27 September 2012.
The Agreement on Implementation Modalities consists of a detailed plan and timetable for the full implementation of all the elements of the Agreement on Security Arrangements. The agreement, signed by the two Ministers of Defence, H.E. Lt.-Gen. John Kong and H.E. 1st Lt.-Gen. Abdel Rahim Hussein, commits the two countries to a set of actions beginning on “D-Day”, 10 March 2013, including unconditional withdrawal of all forces to their side of the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ) and the deployment of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM), with logistical support and logistical protection provided by the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). The two Governments committed themselves to implement these steps in an unconditional and coordinated manner.
The signing of the Implementation Modalities removes the sole remaining obstacle to the full implementation of the nine Agreements signed by the two Presidents in September 2012. The Chairperson has full confidence that the two Governments will act accordingly and implement their commitments expeditiously and in good faith. The Chairperson looks forward to the convening, on 10 March 2013, of the Lead Negotiating Panel (LNP), to consider the implementation matrix prepared by the AUHIP for the implementation of all the agreements.
The next JPSM meeting is scheduled for 17 March 2013 to review progress in the implementation of this agreement, including mechanisms for receiving concerns and complaints.
The Chairperson extends the Commission's gratitude to the AUHIP, to the UN, and to all partners, especially Norway, whose support made the success of this meeting possible. The Chairperson calls on the Parties to continue to show the exemplary commitment that has made this agreement possible. The Chairperson also looks forward to the successful holding of the planned talks between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM-North, aimed at addressing the humanitarian situation and seeking a resolution to the conflict in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states.