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JUBA - 19 Jun 2013

No date set for Machar’s visit to Khartoum

South Sudan Vice President Dr Riek Machar is still expected to visit Khartoum but the date of the visit has not yet been set, according to sources in Juba.

Government spokesman Barnabas Marial Benjamin noted on Tuesday that the Council of Ministers has tasked Vice President Machar to head a high-level Juba government delegation to Khartoum. They are to meet with top Sudan officials with regard to the recent Sudanese presidential decision to halt the flow of South Sudan oil through their territory and oil facilities.

The London-based newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reported that the Vice President will fly to Khartoum during this week after selecting members from among the national Ministers and other competent officials to accompany the vice-presidential delegation.

Nevertheless, Barnaba reiterated his country's adherence to the implementation of both the spirit and the letter of cooperation agreements with Sudan.

The press secretary of the Vice President, James Gadet Dak, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj from Juba that the date of visit to Sudan has not yet been determined.

In Khartoum, the official spokesman for Sudan’s ruling National Congress Party, Yasser Yusuf welcomed the visit of South Sudan’s Vice-President to his country: “The differences between our two countries is caused by the continued support by the Juba government to Sudan Revolutionary Front rebel coalition who is against the government of Sudan,” he said, pointing out that any conducive mechanism that will halt Juba’s support to Sudan’s rebels will be welcomed by the Sudan government.

File photo: South Sudan’s Vice President Riek Machar

Related coverage:

Machar to remain part of talks with Khartoum (24 April 2013)

Document: Mechanisms for monitoring the cooperation agreement (24 April 2013)