The spokesman for the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), Colonel Philip Aguer, has confirmed that the meeting of the Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM) between Sudan and South Sudan is scheduled to start on Tuesday in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, to discuss implementation of the Joint Cooperation Agreement signed in Ethiopia in September 2012.
The SPLA officer revealed that the JPSM meeting would originally have been conducted on 15 August, but attributed the reason for delay to “Khartoum side”.
“The joint meeting will discuss the agreements signed by the two countries, especially the Security Arrangements including creation of the Safe Buffer Zone, as well as discussing the rebel support allegations between the two sides” a source revealed.
In Juba, South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs minister, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, confirmed mutual telephone calls between the two Sudanese presidents in order to consolidate bilateral relations and implement the Cooperation Agreement, especially the continued flow of South Sudanese oil through Sudan territory.
“Contacts between the two leaders represent a good sign for the improvement of relations between the two Sudans” Benjamin said.
File photo: SPLA spokesman, Col Phillip Aguer