Sudanese parliament approves to cooperate with South Sudan

Sudanese Parliament on Wednesday approved the cooperation agreement recently signed between Sudan and South Sudan in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on issues relating to border security and resumption of oil pumping. Around 352 members of the parliaments voted for endorsement of the agreement which came after marathon negotiations between the two countries under the patronage of the African Union. "The agreement institutes for a new phase between the two countries and puts them before a historical responsibility that necessitates building of trust and reaffirming determination to implement what has been agreed upon", said Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Tahir, Speaker of the Sudanese National Assembly (parliament) when addressing the parliament's session today. He reiterated the importance for the two sides to work together to sustain the agreement and implement its items in a manner that achieves the interests of the two countries' peoples and helps building normal ties between the two sides that stand on mutual respect and common benefits. Meanwhile, Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Karti, addressing the parliament's session, urged for protecting the agreement reached, saying "the agreement should be avoided any possible confrontations. The past bitterness should be surpassed." "We should work with the serious parties in the south to prevent any attempt to destroy the agreement or hamper its implementation," said Karti. In September, Sudan and South Sudan signed a package of agreements on various issues at the conclusion of a presidential summit between the two countries' presidents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Witnessed by the members of the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel on Sudan (AUHIP), the two sides have inked three deals on cooperation, security, and post-secession.