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July 25, 2011 (JUBA) — The South Sudan on Monday availed new foreign policy including opening a total of 54 new diplomatic missions around the world.
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- Barnaba Marial Benjami (ST)
Barnaba Marial Benjamin, a caretaker Minister of Information and official South Sudanese government’s spokesperson on Monday told journalist at a press briefing that the newly born state has prepared a new foreign policy strategy following review of existing agreements, including agreement on sharing of Nile river benefits.
"The country has planned new trade agreements with different countries and will open embassies and consulates around the world with new diplomatic service staff," Barnaba said.
The minister said the newly independent country plans to increase the number of diplomatic missions to 54 in the future. Around 34 diplomatic missions will be opened in a first phase in addition to the 13 diplomatic missions already established.
In line with the 2005 peace agreement implementation the South Sudan government opened Liaison Offices in some neighboring countries and Western countries to manage its interests and regional cooperation.
The minister said that tourists who want to visit South Sudan could apply to the missions. "But, visitors from those countries, where we have no diplomatic missions for the time being, will be granted visa on arrival", he said.
He further added that the country has already become a member of the United Nations and remaining looking forward to join number of international institutions including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
"We also have plans to become a member of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Eastern Africa and will also sign bilateral and mutual agreements with various countries", he stressed.
The minister said the Republic of South Sudan is working to open an embassy in the United Arab Emirates to boost economic and trade relations between the two countries. He said there are daily cargo flight between the UAE and Juba. The Republic of South Sudan has good ties with Egypt and many South Sudanese students are in Egypt for study and training purposes.
Many states around the world recognized the republic of South Sudan which is proclaimed its independence on 9 July after January’s referendum on self determination where South Sudanese voted overwhelmingly in favor of secession. Sudan was the first to recognize the new state on 8 July 2011.
He said the South would continue to work with the North as an independent and sovereign state as both the countries have common economic and security interests. He further said that the parties are currently scheduled to resume negotiation on some of the outstanding issues, such as border demarcation, the issue of Abyei, and oil revenues.
(ST)
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