S Sudanese delegation to arrive in Khartoum

A South Sudanese delegation is due to arrive in Khartoum next Thursday, to conduct negotiations with Sudan over tension between the neighbouring countries. The delegation is headed by Bagan Amum, the head of South Sudan's delegation at the bilateral summit in Addis Ababa. The delegation is due to hold meetings with a number of senior officials in Khartoum prpearing for a summit between Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir. The summit is supposed to be held in Juba on April 3 to review matters suspended in the Addis Ababa negotiations. Sources revealed that a visit of a Sudanese delegation to Juba to complete the consultations was also possible.  The South Sudanese delegation includes Deng Alor, the cabinet affairs minister,  John Luk, the minister of justice, Stephen Dam Deu, the minister of oil, Joseph Lual, the minister of humanitarian affairs, Michel Makou, the minister of parliamentary affairs, and Weik Mamair, the state minister. Governor of Abyei Rahma Abdelrahman al-Nour told Arabstoday: "Although this visit comes at a time when rleations between the countries have reached a breaking point, the summit can help soothe tensions. The Sudanese government decided from the beginning to avoid any intransigence, and we hope our South Sudanese partners will follow the same attitude, so the negotiations will achieve success." Al-Nour said the people of Abyei were optimistic about the progress in the negotiations, hoping it would lead to a solution for the dispute between the two countries about the disputed territory. Media minister and the official spokesperson of South Kordofan's government, Rajab al-Basha, has said that any steps to establish peace between the countries would be welcomed by South Kordofan, which is witnessing a militant insurgency. Khartoum believes the rebels are supported by its Southern neighbour. Meanwhile, the head of Sudanese Journalists Syndicate, Dr. Mohyi al-Din Titawi, told Arabstoday: "I believe the presidential summit should be held in a neutral country, as suitable political and security conditions are not guaranteed in Juba, taking into account the recent offensive tone of the the South Sudanese president against Khartoum, added to the wide support from many South Sudanese officials to the international arrest warrant issued against prsesident al-Bashir from the International Criminal Court."