The head of the Commission welcomed the decision by the SPLM and NCP to resume their negotiations on post?referendum issues.
Jean Ping congratulated the governments of Sudan and Juba for the effective manner in which they have addressed the tensions that had arisen between the parties in the past weeks after the SPLM accused the NCP to fuel violence in the South and pulled out of the negotiations.The AU leader commended presidents Omar al Bashir and Salva Kiir Mayardit for the leadership they have demonstrated, which made it possible to quickly reach an agreement for the resumption of the negotiations and the establishment of mechanisms to resolve the security concerns that had led to the suspension of dialogue.
Dr. Ping urged the parties to continue to work in a concerted effort, under the facilitation of the AU Panel on Sudan, in order to complete the implementation of all outstanding CPA provisions and especially the issue of Abyei.