US envoy gives view on Addis Ababa agreement

Preston Lehmann, the US envoy to Sudan and South Sudan, has said the agreement signed between both parties last September will open trade borders and increase oil revenues to benefit both parties. These remarks came during a press conference on Thursday afternoon at the US Embassy in Khartoum, as Lehmann explained what he thought the cooperation agreement would lead to. He said it was important for both countries to maintain open communication and cooperation to push the implementation of the agreement forward. Lehmann added that the US would be monitoring progress and will provide assistance when necessary. The Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan has not made its’ alliances known. However Lehmann said the al-Maseriya tribe has the right to vote in the upcoming referendum to determine whether the dependency of the region will sway towards Sudan or South Sudan. The US envoy added that if things remain the same with regards to the security situation in South Kordofan the result would be more refugees. Lehmann said therefore this issue needs to be resolved urgently.