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Harare GoSS Liaison Office to be officially opened
Fri, January 30 2009
By IMD-MRC/GOSS [Juba - Sudan]

JUBA, Sudan (Jan. 29) – The Minister of Regional Cooperation, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, is in Zimbabwe to officially open the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) liaison office in Harare.

Upon arrival in the Zimbabwean capital Harare, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin was received by the State Minister of Foreign Affairs alongside Mr. Sam Luate Lominsk, the designated Principal Liaison Officer and his deputy, Mr. Gabriel Gai.

Dr. Barnaba later met with the acting minister of Foreign Affairs, during which time he briefed the Zimbabwean minister on the current status and progress of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Although there have been some achievements on the implementation of the CPA, a number of strategic parts of the peace accord are yet to be implemented. These strategic areas include the issue of border demarcation, the nationwide elections, and the 2011 Referendum, where the people of southern Sudan shall determine their fate through a vote for existence in a united Sudan or secession.

In view of the 2011 Referendum for the people of southern Sudan, discussions also included Zimbabwe’s stance on the outcome of the plebiscite, emphasizing for the respect of the democratic decision that is to be made by the people of southern Sudan and the people of Abyei.

During the meeting, concerns were also raised regarding the position of the CPA with reference to the outcome of the possible indictment of the Sudanese president by the ICC. Dr. Marial Benjamin assured the Zimbabweans that the CPA must and will be implemented fully.

Zimbabwe stated its support for the African Union’s (AU) position on the ICC and to see the full implementation of the CPA.

The Regional Cooperation minister is expected to meet with the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, following the meeting with the State Foreign minister.

The opening ceremony of the government of South Sudan’s liaison office in Harare is scheduled to take place in the presence of the Zimbabwean Foreign Affairs minister.

From Zimbabwe the Regional Cooperation minister will make further official visits to Ethiopia, Eritrea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, and Egypt before returning to Juba, in southern Sudan.

The Ministry of Regional Cooperation is extending its presence abroad and in due course plans to open more liaison offices to help boost cultural, trade and bilateral relations with regional and overseas partners. There are currently 18 foreign consulates opened in Juba, southern Sudan and 11 liaison offices of the government of South Sudan abroad.

 

 

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