Sudan, Juba deal soon

Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir said Friday the agreement on comprehensive cooperation, he signed with President of South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit in Addis Ababa yesterday, will take force within the coming few days. "There will be no backpedalling on our shared commitments," Al-Bashir told thousands of people who gathered at Khartoum International Airport to welcome him. "The deal struck yesterday puts an end to almost all thorny issues between the two nations once and for all; it helps both sides to turn the border regions into areas of exchanging benefits instead of smuggling weapons and rebels," he said. After signing the deal President Al-Bashir and Mayardit met to reaffirm determination to implement its provisions sincerely in order to open new horizons for political, economic, social and commercial cooperation. The comprehensive accord covers nine areas of cooperation, including the security arrangements, oil, border issues, immigration, debts, and the economic and commercial exchanges. The documents have to be endorsed by the parliaments of both countries within 40 days.