Bashir visit's aims to restore confidence between Khartoum and Juba, minister

April 12, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - The visit of Sudanese president Omer Al-Bashir to Juba aims to demonstrate Khartoum's good will and determination to implement the signed agreement aiming to normalize bilateral relations after the independence of South Sudan, said the Sudanese information minister.

Sudan's President Omer Al-Bashir (C) meets his South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir (L) upon his arrival at the Juba Airport in South Sudan April 12, 2013. (Reuters)

President Al-Bashir arrived Friday morning to Juba where he was warmly received by his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir and the members of his government.

He is accompanied by a big delegation including presidential assistants Jalal Al-Dougair, Abdel Rahman Al-Mahdi, minister of presidential affairs Bakri Hassan Saleh, defence minister Abdel Rahim Hussein, foreign minister Ali Karti, interior minister Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid, oil minister Awad Al-Jaz and the head of national intelligence and security services, among others.

Speaking to reporters before the departure of the presidential delegation to Juba, information minister, Ahmed Bala Osman said that the visit ultimately aims to restore confidence between the two countries.

Bashir's visit to Juba "aims to break down the barrier of distrust and show (Khartoum's) political determination to implement what has been agreed by the two countries", the information minister said.

He further added that it also means to reaffirm what Bashir said in his speech at the celebration ceremony of South Sudan's independence when he said that we seek for "cooperation and integration that amounts to a union between the two states".

The visit comes three days before a meeting at the level of political and security mechanism between the two parties to discuss the issue of rebels groups.

The two presidents are expected to discuss the issue of Abyei temporary administration and a referendum that should take place after on the fate of the region. Also border demarcation is and the disputed areas are to tackled by the two leaders.

(ST)