Republic of Sudan President Omar Hassan al-Bashir leaving plane upon arrival in Juba, Republic of South Sudan. The two states are working to normalize relations., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.
Bashir announces normalization of ties with South Sudan
April 12, 2013 11:30 AM (Last updated: April 12, 2013 07:42 PM)
JUBA: Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir arrived in South Sudan Friday for the first time since his 2011 visit for the country's independence celebrations, and announced that the visit marked the normalization of ties between the two countries.
He also said that he has instructed the border between the two countries be opened for traffic.
South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, Bashir's former civil war foe and an ex-rebel commander, welcomed his counterpart at Juba airport and said that he has agreed with Bashir to continue dialogue to solve all conflicts between the two states.
A military band played the national anthems of the two countries as the two heads of state greeted South Sudanese ministers assembled to welcome Bashir.
Bashir's visit "will be good for the future of the two countries," South Sudanese Information minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said before Bashir's plane touched down.
"There should be peace between the two countries," he said.
The two nations battled on their un-demarcated border one year ago, with Khartoum's warplanes bombing the South, and Juba sending troops deep into disputed areas to battle Sudanese soldiers.
The fighting raised fears of wider war with intermittent clashes continuing for several months, but international pressure reined both sides into an uneasy standoff.
But at talks in Addis Ababa in March, Sudan and South Sudan finally settled on detailed timetables to improve relations by resuming the oil flows and implementing eight other key pacts including one for a demilitarised border buffer zone.
Security was tight in Juba with the streets of the southern capital lined with security forces who had started deploying on Thursday night. The only vehicles on the road were official convoys and the few pedestrians moving around were subject to constant security checks.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Apr-12/213492-sudans-bashir-arrives-in-south-sudan-afp.ashx#ixzz2QJaHjhMx
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
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