CAIRO: Norway, who has an extensive history of foreign aid in the Sudan and South Sudan, is intensely concerned about currently spiraling conflict. “We are pleased to note that South Sudan has now withdrawn its armed forces from the disputed Heglig area. However, we see that the Sudan has stepped up its bombing of South Sudan's territory. We call for an immediate halt to the hostilities,” said Norway's Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, in a statement to Bikyamasr.com. Norway urges both parties to refrain from statements and actions that could worsen the situation. “The current tense situation between the Sudan and South Sudan risks jeopardizing the progress made by the parties since the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that was signed in 2005,” said Støre. “Norway will continue to actively promote a peaceful solution to the conflict, for example by supporting the work of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel,” said Minister of International Development Heikki Holmås. In order to secure a stable security situation it is essential that the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mission is established without delay. “I urge both countries once again to remove all obstacles to the establishment of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mission and call on the parties to honor their commitment to establish the mission immediately,” said Støre. “The outstanding issues cannot be resolved through military action. It is vital that President of the Sudan Omar al-Bashir and President of South Sudan Salva Kiir return to the negotiating table as soon as possible,” said Holmås. Norway is the latest in a number of countries, including Egypt and the United States, to emphatically call for a peaceful negotiation to the rapidly escalating conflict in the Sudan.
