MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The next round of talks to resolve issues between Sudan and South Sudan will take place in Moscow at the expert level, the Sudanese ambassador to Russia said.
"The next round will take place in Moscow on the expert level. The issues of security will be discussed within the framework of the upcoming dialogue. If we can move forward in implementation of already existing agreements we will be able to proceed to solving other pressing issues," Nadir Babiker told RIA Novosti.
Relations between the two African countries have been poor since South Sudan became independent from Sudan in July 2011. The two countries have not been able to agree on several issues, including a definition of borders and the conducting of a referendum on the status of the disputed oil-rich border area of Abyei.
In September, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Sudanese and South Sudanese counterparts, Ibrahim Ghandour and Benjamin Barnaba respectively, held talks in Moscow.
Lavrov said that Moscow would continue providing support for Sudan and South Sudan in the bilateral negotiations.
