ADDIS ABABA: The accord inked by Sudan and South Sudan in Addis Ababa last week is a crucial step, said Italy's Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi in New York. “I wish to extend my warm congratulations to the governments of Sudan and South Sudan for the important accords signed in Addis Ababa on bilateral cooperation, security, trade and shared oil resources, said Terzi, according to whom “this is a crucial step, long-supported by Italy, that I hope will pave the way for a future of cooperation between the two countries.” “The barriers to reaching a comprehensive accord were overcome", Terzi asserted, “as a result of the spirit of compromise shown by both parties concerned". Sudan and South Sudan hope the new agreement inked in the Ethiopian capital will help put an end to tension between the two countries and help push development and sharing agreements forward. “It is now essential", the minister underscored, “that the authorities of Khartoum and Juba are able to take advantage of the new positive climate that was reflected yesterday also here in New York at the Consultative Forum on Sudan and South Sudan, and that must translate into immediate concrete efforts on the ground to implement the understandings achieved and to resolve issues still in suspension as soon as possible – in particular", Terzi said, “the status of the Abyei region, as stated in UN Security Council Resolution no. 2046 of 2 May 2012′′. Minister Terzi, recalling with “strong feelings of appreciation" the “decisiveness" of the patient efforts at mediation by both the African Union's Mbeki Panel, which Italy supported, and the Ethiopian government, concluded by reiterating that “the principle of African ownership has proved a winning one that will continue to inspire Italy's commitment to supporting Sudan and South Sudan's quest for lasting peace.”
