Halt of oil flow: ‘concerned’ EU, US urge Sudans to respect Addis treaty

In separate statements, both the European Union (EU) and the USA have expressed deep concern regarding the announcement by Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir to halt the flow of oil from South Sudan.They have both urged both Sudan and South Sudan to respect the agreements signed in Addis Ababa last year.Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, warned that an oil shut-down “would have serious consequences for the viability of the two states, relations between them and the wider region”.Ashton urged the two sides to prioritise the interests of their citizens and promote mutually beneficial relations between their two states. She noted that the Addis Agreements signed on 27 September 2012 should be implemented unconditionally and without threats to abrogate all the agreements if problems arise in one area.The High Representative said that Sudan and South Sudan must take immediate action to prevent any support to armed rebel movements in each others’ countries and fully demilitarise the Safe Demilitarised Border Zone in accordance with the commitments they have already given.“Any complaints or grievances about security concerns should be addressed through agreed bilateral security mechanisms. Both parties should cooperate with the AU High Level Implementation Panel to find a way forward.”Ashton concluded saying that the international community has already played its part by expanding the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to provide additional force protection for border monitoring, including verifying any allegations of cross-border support to rebels.“Not taking appropriate action would have disastrous consequences for the people of both countries. This outcome must be avoided at all costs.”USAOn 10 June, US Ambassador Joseph Stafford, Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Khartoum, met with Ali Karti, the Sudanese Foreign Minister, and urged the country to reverse its decision. Ambassador Susan Page, of the US Embassy in Juba, capital of South Sudan, has also spoken with several officials in the country.“In our meetings, we expressed our deep concern at President Bashir’s statement that Sudan will instruct oil companies to stop the flow of South Sudanese oil transported via Sudan’s pipeline within the next 60 days. We urged Sudan to reverse its decision, and for both Sudan and South Sudan to engage through agreed mechanisms, such as the Joint Political Security Mechanism and Petroleum Monitoring Committee, in order to address and to resolve issues related to security and support to rebels.”The two US diplomats reiterated the need to fully and immediately implement all of the 27 September cooperation agreements without preconditions:“Uninterrupted and unconditional flow of oil and the opening and securing of the Sudan/South Sudan border for trade and movement of peoples, including trans-border migratory populations, will bring economic benefit and stability to citizens of both countries and should be prioritised.”File photoRelated: ‘All treaties with South Sudan cancelled’ as Khartoum vows to halt flow of oil (9 June 2013)