South Sudan official arrives in Sudan to settle border rowDecember 1, 2012 - 19:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A top South Sudanese official arrived in Sudan on Saturday, December 1 to discuss how to set up a demilitarized border zone, a condition for resuming oil exports, in the first direct talks between the neighbors since new tensions broke out last month. The African countries agreed at talks in Ethiopia in September to end hostilities and restart oil exports - including creating the buffer zone - after coming close to war in April, the worst violence since South Sudan seceded last year. South Sudan had shut down its oil production of 350,000 barrels a day in January after tensions over pipeline fees escalated. But the neighbors have been unable to agree how to withdraw their armies from the disputed border, a step both had said was necessary to resume oil exports from landlocked South Sudan through Sudanese pipelines. "I came here from Juba to activate the joint cooperation agreements signed between the two countries in Addis Ababa for the benefit of the two people," Pagan Amum, South Sudan's chief negotiator, told reporters at Khartoum airport. He said he had brought a letter from South Sudan's President Salva Kiir for his Sudanese counterpart Omar Hassan al-Bashir. Sudan's top negotiator Idris Abdel-Qadir said it was in the interest of both countries to break the deadlock. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children Moscow slams EU mission in Armenia for “provocative activity” The EU mission is doing more and more against Armenia’s neighbors Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, Mikhail Galuzin said. Yerevan Mayor to travel to Paris on May 15-19 The official delegation headed by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan will travel to Paris from May 15 to 19. Armenia, India hold first defense consultations The meeting was attended by Indian Ambassador Nilakshi Saha Sinha and Defense Attaché Brigadier General Naveen Nijhawan. |